BIKETOWN and Validated Announce First-of-Its-Kind Partnership With Campaign for Local Holiday Shopping

PORTLAND, OREGON, December 12, 2016 (Newswire.com) - ​West coast lifestyle app Validated and Portland bike share program BIKETOWN announce first-of-its-kind partnership that lets shops and restaurants validate bike share costs.

To kick off the partnership, BIKETOWN and Validated are launching #GetValidated when you fill your #BIKETOWNbasket: a co-marketing campaign to encourage people to do two things this season: shop local and explore freely.

"When it comes to cities, brick-and-mortar businesses are the backbone and lifeblood... they are what make cities what they are. By patronizing brick-and-mortar businesses, you help preserve the vitality and identity of your city."

Alanna Beckman, Director of Marketing

Validated is a mobile app that allows shops and restaurants to cover the cost of transportation for their customers. Users shop and dine at businesses listed in the app and earn credits they can transfer to any account in Validated’s syndicate of transportation providers: Lyft, Luxe, PayPal (for parking and public transit)... and now BIKETOWN, Portland’s bike share program.

With 1,000 bikes at 100 stations across the city, BIKETOWN makes exploring Portland both fun and convenient; and with Validated, their already affordable rates are nearly negligible. But the partnership is bigger than bikes. It’s a win for the businesses too: the reimbursements they offer via Validated have shown to drive sales, boost spending, and build loyalty. 

A showcase of brimming BIKETOWN baskets, the cross-channel kick-off pays homage to a few of the many brick-and-mortar businesses that make Portland great: Arc’teryx, Bridge & Burn, Compound Gallery, Deadstock Coffee, EcoVibe Apparel, MadeHere PDX, Marine Layer, SEE, and The Athletic Community. All of the businesses are on the Validated platform and will reward customers with credits they can use to enjoy a free BIKETOWN ride.

To use Validated, one can download it free from the App Store or Play Store. Open the app to find a list of nearby merchants; search by name, neighborhood, or zip code; sort by category; or browse the map. Select a merchant to see their campaigns. Users that hit spending targets can claim credits by scanning their receipt. Credits can be stacked from multiple merchants and pushed directly to BIKETOWN or any other mobility account on the REDEEM screen. 

“When it comes to cities, brick-and-mortar businesses are the backbone and lifeblood,” says Alanna Beckman, Validated’s Director of Marketing. “They comprise both local economy and local culture; they are what make cities what they are. By patronizing brick-and-mortar businesses, you help preserve the vitality and identity of your city.”

This holiday season, use BIKETOWN to explore Portland. Eat, drink, and get validated! No matter your mode of transportation, Validated businesses will help cover the cost of getting where you want to go.

ABOUT BIKETOWN-VALIDATED PARTNERSHIP
BIKETOWN is owned by Portland's Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) and operated by Motivate, the global leader in bike share that works to re-envision how people experience and move around cities. Validated is a nexus of transportation providers and brick-and-mortar businesses that enhances the urban experience by making it easier for people to explore freely. Together they smooth the way for you to enjoy everything Portland has to offer. 

ABOUT VALIDATED
Validated is a mobile app that connects brick-and-mortar businesses to the transportation networks that feed local commerce. With Validated, businesses can reimburse their customers’ transportation costs. Users can use Validated credits for bike-share, ride-share, car-share, mass transit, parking, and more.

ABOUT BIKETOWN
BIKETOWN is Portland's bike share system, launching in July 2016 with 1,000 bikes and 100 hubs. It's a fun, affordable and convenient way to get around Portland – perfect for commuting, spontaneous trips, or for exploring the area. BIKETOWN is the latest addition to Validated’s syndicate of transportation providers.

Source: Validated, BIKETOWN