By Shereen Siewert
Zagster, the company that supplies bikes and stations for Wausau’s bike share program, will withdraw their bikes from the city, officials announced Friday.
Mayor Katie Rosenberg, in a news release issued Friday, said the city received notice from Zagster that the withdrawal is due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the company’s business.
“We know many in the community were excited to have a new way to explore our riverfront and get outdoors for some fresh air, particularly during these trying times, and we regret that these unforeseen circumstances have resulted in the discontinuance of this new program,” Rosenberg said.
Zagster is a bike share company that uses an app-based system for customers to rent cycles. The city in 2019 received a combination of grant and sponsorship dollars through the Community Foundation of North Central Wisconsin to fund 10 bikes for the first two years of bike share, and any additional infrastructure needed to support the system.
Now, those bikes will be withdrawn from the riverfront area.
“We know other communities in Wisconsin with bike share programs operated by Zagster received the same news, and we are attempting to work with Zagster to keep the program in Wausau,” Rosenberg said. “We will continue to explore ways to help our residents and visitors get around our City.”
