Marking a major milestone for local transportation, downtown vibrancy, and town connectivity, Main Street Chestertown is celebrating the one-year anniversary of its community Bike Share Program. Launched in September 2025 in partnership with the Town of Chestertown and initial startup support from Jimmy Kelley-Markham, the 10-bike fleet has quickly established itself as a popular way for residents, visitors, and Washington College students to navigate the historic district. 

Over the past year, the program has logged over 300 rides, translating to an average of roughly 30 rides per bike each month. Ridership data reveals an average trip length of 143 minutes, reflecting a strong trend toward leisurely town exploration, shopping, and waterfront visits as well as quick, transient commutes on the bikes. Adoption continues to expand rapidly across the community, averaging 71 new registered users per month in 2026 alone.

The bikes are particularly popular with tourists. Usage patterns show that 61% of all rides taken thus far originated at the Chestertown Marina location at the end of S. Water St., serving as a key gateway for waterfront visitors and downtown shoppers and diners. Additionally, the two-station system—with the other depots located on Washington College’s campus—has created a seamless bridge between the college and the downtown business district.

"When Main Street Chestertown launched this initiative last fall, the goal was to make downtown more accessible, interconnected, and welcoming —whether you're a resident heading to the Farmers' Market, a college student heading out to the waterfront, or a visitor exploring our historic streets and shops," said Dominique Ellis Falcon, executive director of Main Street Chestertown. "This program is just the beginning of bringing our vision for the Downtown Master Plan to life. As we build on this incredible first year, continued support for our micro-mobility footprint will make Chestertown an even more enticing destination for visitors, encouraging tourists to explore further, stay longer, and directly drive economic growth across our local businesses and entire town."

The Main Street Chestertown Bike Share Program represents a crucial first step in executing Chestertown’s Downtown Master Plan. The Master Plan’s proposed designs and recommendations emphasize a comprehensive and secure pedestrian and bike network that seamlessly connects key community assets and enables walking, biking, and micro mobility—linking the Rail Trail, Heritage Trail, and waterfront attractions with safe routes to schools and other on-street facilities. 

“Much of Chestertown's charm lies in its walkability to sites and attractions and creating a cohesive network of high quality sidewalks and bike routes are top priorities outlined in our 2026 Comprehensive Plan. In addition to giving residents and guests an ideal way to experience all we have to offer here in Chestertown, the stats from the first year of Main Street Chestertown’s Bike Share Program showcase the existing demand we have for increasing the accessibility for micro mobility throughout the town" said Mayor Meghan Efland. "This successful first year demonstrates the strength of our municipal and community partnerships, and we look forward to seeing the program continue to thrive."

"The bike share program has been a fantastic addition to our campus community, giving our students a convenient, eco-friendly way to venture off campus and engage directly with downtown Chestertown," said Bryan Matthews, president of Washington College. "It strengthens the bond between the college and the town, encouraging students to support local businesses, enjoy the waterfront, and feel truly at home in Chestertown."

Ridership peaked during October 2025, driven by fall tourism, Chestertown’s many events, and seasonal community gatherings like the RiverArts Studio Tour and the annual Sultana Downrigging Festival. To maintain visibility and encourage adoption, the program’s bikes were recently placed on display during First Friday events in downtown Chestertown, giving attendees hands-on opportunities to learn how to unlock and ride using the Movatic mobile app. 

The app is downloadable from QR codes on depot signage, through posters around downtown,  and online. Once you have an account, it’s just $1 to unlock a bike and $1 per 30 minutes. 

The program also reflects a growing national movement. According to the North American Bikeshare and Scootershare Association’s (NABSA) 2025 State of the Industry report, Chestertown is one of more than 400 towns and cities across North America operating a shared micro-mobility program. NABSA’s research highlights that trips taken on bike and scooter share systems have risen sharply nationwide since 2021 as communities seek accessible, low-cost transportation alternatives.

Bikes are regularly serviced and ready for public use. As a reminder to riders, the fleet is temporarily winterized and removed from public use during peak winter months to ensure user safety during ice and snow events and to protect the equipment from seasonal weather damage.

To learn more about the program or download the app to ride, visit the Bike Share webpage on Main Street Chestertown’s site.