The Metroparks Toledo board has awarded a contract to Gotcha Bike, LLC, to provide bikes and equipment for a new bike share program in downtown Toledo.

Gotcha will operate the bike share under a contract managed by the City of Toledo. Plans call for installing 100 bikes and 18 docking stations. The program could be in operation as early as this summer.

Gotcha manufactures its own smart bikes and equipment in Charleston, SC. The bike can be rented through a smartphone application and paid for online. The user will then receive a code to unlock the bike.

A Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) grant will pay for 80 percent of the costs up to $262,760. Additional funds may be raised from sponsors.

Details about the operation of the programs will be agreed upon between the city and Gotcha Bikes.

“This is a great partnership with the Metroparks that will make Toledo more liveable and offer a healthier and more environmentally-friendly option than driving. This is the start of a plan that will be a transportation alternative,” Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz said. “Other cities have used bike share programs with great success and this is overdue in Toledo. Successful cities offer these kinds of opportunities for their residents and visitors. Thanks to Metroparks Toledo for helping to make this a reality.”

Metroparks was among more than two dozen public and private organizations in support of a bike share program. The park district agreed to lend its expertise in project management, bidding and grant writing to help get the project going. The city has now agreed to manage the program.

“Somebody needed to own this, and if not for the mayor’s office raising their hand this would not happen,” said Scott Savage, president of the Board of Park Commissioners.