It’s that time of the year again, the sun is shining and the wind is whisking by. This time only comes once a year: spring. A great way to take advantage of spring weather that makes Florida famous is to get outside and explore your city.

Coast Bike Share is “the healthy, fun and affordable way to breeze around Tampa” according to coast.socialbicylcles.com.

You have probably seen bike racks along Tampa Bay’s Riverwalk and in the heart of Downtown Tampa. Those bright colored blue bikes are provided by a nationwide company called Coast Bike. Coast Bike stations are set up all over downtown Tampa, and there is even a helpful app that makes getting around the city on two wheels as easy as can be. Using the Social Bicycles app, you can book a bike by logging on and reserving a bike at the station nearest to you.

After you have secured a bike, enter the four-digit into the keypad on the back of the bike. The pin is provided by the app after payment. The pin will release your bike, and you are then free to ride around town.

Using the entire amount of time you reserve to ride is nearly impossible with all the coffee shops, restaurants and art galleries you encounter as you “breeze” through the city. To make sure you aren’t charged for the time when the bike isn’t in motion, simply press the HOLD button and secure the bike to a nearby rack. Then re-enter your pin to get rolling again.

When your time is up, simply return the bike to one of the convenient hubs stationed throughout the city. The standard rate is $8 per hour, but for those who are eager to ride more, you can choose to spend $15 per month for 60 minutes (per day), $20 per month for 90 minutes (per day) or the annual fee of $79 for 60 minutes (per day). There is even a deal for students where $59 per year will get you 60 minutes of riding each day.

Bike riding in large cities has been made easier through prepaid riding plans. Many bike rack stations and even a mobile app track everything for you.

Tampa isn’t the only city where a large number of people are riding bikes. Countless people are hopping on their bikes in cities such as New York, Minneapolis, and Washington, D.C.

This bike riding trend is great for the environment. With more riders, fewer people will need to pump gas for cars. Biking also promotes a healthier lifestyle, and with rising gas prices, saves you a lot of money!