Animated speakers, curious cycling enthusiasts and a host of local dignitaries gathered outside the Petaluma SMART Station on November 6 for an afternoon launch event featuring a ribbon cutting, short speeches, a giveaway of free headphones and — after the main festivities were over — the notable sight of Petaluma Mayor Kevin McDonnell happily test-driving an electric bike.

The mayor’s assessment, mirroring that of two or three dozen other test riders who were on hand to celebrate the arrival of the new Petaluma. Redwood Rideshare the program was definitely positive.

“They’re pretty cool,” McDonnell said of the electric bikes, which run on batteries and pedal assist. Adding his own view of the new bike rental system itself, he said: “Everything is great.”

The two-year pilot program, which started in Marin County and has already put bikes on the road in Cotati and Rohnert Park, is intended to fill transportation gaps between key locations. In Petaluma, accessible outdoor “hubs” for rental bikes have already been located at nine local locations, including the SMART Station, Petaluma Valley Hospital, Petaluma Swim Center, Walnut Park, Aqus Cafe, Petaluma Square, the corner of Kentucky Street and Western Street and on North Water Street near Brewsters.

To use one of the e-bikes — designed and manufactured by Drop Mobility, founded eight years ago and based in San Francisco — participants must download the Redwood Rideshare app to their phone. Their phone can be used to unlock one of the bikes and start the rental period. There’s an initial fee of $1 to unlock the bike, after which you pay 25 cents per minute or up to 30 free minutes per day with no unlock fee for a $20 per month plan. There are introductory discounts for first time users.

E-bikes, all equipped with GPS tracking devices, must be returned to another official Redwood Bikeshare hub somewhere in the network, including a nearby city that also contains hubs. The apps are linked to a user’s banking service, with fees automatically transferred, and there are $35-$75 penalties if the bike isn’t returned to a dock within 24 hours.

“The whole concept started with the idea of ​​getting people out of the car, but it developed into a method of getting people from a short location, such as a train station, to another, shop or bus stop, in the fastest and cheap. possible way,” explained Dipesh Dar, CEO of Drop Mobility. “Ecologically, it’s also wise. If you’re making a short run to the grocery store or going to the library to return a book, we’d rather you take a bike than drive.”

Once the program is rolled out in Novato and Santa Rosa, there will be 60 hubs in Marin and Sonoma County, with about 300 working e-bikes distributed between them.

“Riding a pedal-assist electric bike,” explained Dar, “is just like riding any other bike.”

As a rider pedals, a small electric motor adds momentum, making longer distances or steep climbs much easier.

“The bike is designed to analyze your ride and know when you’re on a hill and need an extra boost,” he said. “It’s a smart way to travel, and we think Petaluma will really love it.”