Uber Technologies Inc. has found a new way to replace drivers while it still waits for its autonomous vehicle fleet to be ready. The ride-hailing giant announced today that it has launched its own bike share program called Uber Bike.

Uber is piloting the new program in San Francisco through a partnership with Jump, a bike share startup that operates a fleet of pedal-assist electric bikes that are already available in the city.

Users who get accepted to the Uber Bike pilot can tap the “bike” option from the Uber menu to see a map of the closest available bikes, which they can then unlock and pay for directly through the Uber app. Uber Bike will also show users where to find the designated bike zones where they are supposed to leave the bike when they are done.

Andrew Salzberg, Uber’s head of transportation policy and research, said in a statement that more transportation options “make it increasingly easy to live life without a car,” which would of course mean more business for shared transport options like Uber. According to Salzberg, bikes could be particularly appealing to users who live in dense cities, where cars might not be a fast or convenient option for most journeys. He also noted that bikes are more environmentally friendly than cars, and that small steps such as Uber Bike “can add up to major progress” over time.

The bike share industry has exploded over the last few years, with companies such as China’s Ofo raising more than $1 billion in funding. Most fleets rely on normal bicycles because they are relatively inexpensive and easy to maintain, but e-bikes require less exertion and can offer more speed and range. According to Jump Bikes, these advantages make e-bikes an option that “connects underserved neighborhoods to the rest of the city.”

“Jump bikes are an evolution of bike sharing that bridges the gap between cars and bikes,” Jump Chief Executive Ryan Rzepecki said in a blog post. “Partnering with Uber allows both companies to explore a future where shared bikes and shared rides work together to reduce car ownership by providing the right solution for each trip.”

San Francisco residents who want to try out Uber Bike may have a long wait ahead, though. The pilot will operate a fleet of only 250 e-bikes for the first nine months.

“We’re experienced enough to know that our solutions impact neighborhoods and therefore they impact the homes and businesses of the people within them,” said Rzepecki. “Beyond analyzing the data, we’ll continue to meet with as many local community groups and policy stakeholders as we can.”

Photo: Uber