Seven years ago, driven by a group of enthusiastic employees, the Sleepy Eye Medical Center Wellness Committee set out to create something special: a community bike share program. This initiative, funded by the Sleepy Eye Healthcare Foundation, aimed to not just encourage physical activity but also uplift the well-being of Sleepy Eye residents.
The mission of the Sleepy Eye Healthcare Foundation, a nonprofit organization which accepts donations on behalf of the medical center, is to assist the facility in providing excellent healthcare to patients and enhance the wellness and quality of life in the communities it serves.
Thanks to the support of the Foundation, the program came to life, offering six Shimano® 7-speed bikes with solar-powered Bluetooth locks, stationed conveniently near the public boat landing on the north side of Sportsman’s Park. It quickly became a favorite recreational activity for trail enthusiasts, park visitors, and locals alike.
Since 2017, the program has seen impressive engagement, with 1,838 rentals and 465 users enjoying the benefits of cycling in Sleepy Eye’s scenic surroundings.
“We saw plenty of traffic those first couple years. Initially, there was a lot of interest in biking and few opportunities quite like it in our rural area,” said Mikayla Bruggeman, Director of Marketing and Communications.
The program was suspended in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Bruggeman said seasons 2022 and 2023 brought some challenges, including additional maintenance needs and part replacements as well as user refunds due to rental and locking errors.
“In addition, the rental software system now requires a yearly licensing fee of $720, which is new as of 2023. Add this to another $700 spent on annual bike tune-ups, unforeseen part replacements throughout the season, and the impending need for new bikes, and we were looking at some big dollars. Though making money was never the point of this project; we just aren’t sustainable anymore,” said Bruggeman.
The cost to start the program back in 2017 was $8,950. The Healthcare Foundation plans to sell the bikes to SEMC employees, with proceeds benefiting the Foundation. Any remaining bikes will be listed and sold online.
“While the program discontinuation may evoke mixed emotions, it symbolizes the culmination of a chapter filled with positive impacts and memories. We extend our gratitude to everyone who supported, promoted, and embraced the program over the years. As we turn the page, we look forward to nurturing and supporting future health and wellness initiatives for our patients and the communities we are privileged to serve,” said Bruggeman.