Hidden Gems: Meet Ronnell Elkins of Bike Share Youngstown/YoGo Bikeshare

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ronnell Elkins.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Born & raised in Youngstown, OH. I always wanted to be an entrepreneur and community advocate. My journey into shared mobility began with a family vacation in Washington DC. I believe transportation should not be a barrier to opportunity. Growing up in Youngstown, I saw firsthand how limited access impacted people’s ability to grow, thrive and explore. That realization planted the seed for what would eventually become YoGo Bikeshare and later Bike Share Youngstown.

What started as an idea to introduce a fun, affordable transportation to the city quickly evolved into a larger mission centered around equity, health, and community connection. Along with my Dad and brothers, we founded YoGo Bikeshare with the goal of bringing modern micromobility solutions to Youngstown while also changing the way people viewed biking in the community. With the population size of Youngstown, people were surprised that we had a bike share program and we worked to prove that Youngstown deserved innovative transportation solutions like the bigger cities.

Building the program hasn’t been easy. From securing bikes and funding to navigating infrastructure challenges and building public trust, I had to create much of the foundation from the ground up. There wasn’t a blueprint for me to follow, no one I could go to for advice regarding implementation of a biking system within city government or the community. Through persistence, community partnerships, grassroots engagement, and the help of PoGoh (City of Pittsburgh), YoGo Bikeshare began gaining traction and visibility across the region. What made the initiative stand out was that it was never just about bikes, it was about creating access, improving quality of life, and investing in neighborhoods that are often overlooked.

As the vision expanded, Bike Share Youngstown emerged as the nonprofit arm focused on deeper community impact, advocacy, and programming. Under Ronnell’s leadership, the organization has launched neighborhood mobility initiatives, youth, community rides, bike lane cleanups, safety education efforts, and partnerships with local institutions and public agencies. The work has become a platform for larger conversations around transportation equity, public health, economic opportunity, and neighborhood revitalization.

Today, I’m recognized not only as the founder of a bike share system, but as a leader helping reimagine mobility and community development in Youngstown. My story reflects resilience, innovation, and a commitment to creating solutions that directly impact the people who call the city home.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The road was full of potholes and bumps figuratively speaking. I would not want to ride a bike down the road that was set before me introducing bike sharing to the city of Youngstown. From the beginning we had infastructure issues within the city, as downtown Youngstown was starting road construction. That delayed our launch for 2 years! One of the biggest challenges I faced early on was simply getting people to believe that a bike share program could work in a city like Youngstown. Shared mobility systems are often associated with larger cities, so there was skepticism about whether the community would support it, use it, or even understand its value. Convincing people that biking could be a legitimate transportation option—not just recreation was an uphill battle.

As you know, we’re big fans of Bike Share Youngstown/YoGo Bikeshare. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Bike Share Youngstown and YoGo Bikeshare are more than transportation organizations—we are community-driven movements focused on improving mobility, access, health, and connection throughout Youngstown and the surrounding region. At our core, we specialize in shared micromobility solutions that make transportation affordable, accessible, and community-centered.

YoGo Bikeshare was created to introduce modern bike share transportation to Youngstown in a way that reflects the city’s unique needs and culture. What began as a small mobility initiative has evolved into a broader mission focused on transportation equity, neighborhood activation, and community engagement. Through Bike Share Youngstown, the nonprofit arm of the work, we’ve been able to expand beyond bike rentals into education, advocacy, programming, and partnerships that directly impact residents.

Most people don’t know this but we are the only black owned & operated bike share program in the United States. That distinction carries both pride and responsibility for our organization. In an industry where Black ownership and representation have historically been limited, we’ve worked to create something that not only brings innovative transportation solutions to Youngstown, but also reflects the communities we serve.

What matters most to you? Why?
Sustainability. Creating real, lasting impact in the communities we serve. Bike Share Youngstown and YoGo Bikeshare is the belief that access—to transportation, opportunity, health, and connection should’nt depend on someone’s zip code or income level.
What matters most is ensuring that communities like Youngstown are not left behind when it comes to innovation, infrastructure, and investment. Too often, smaller cities and underserved neighborhoods are excluded from conversations about mobility and economic development. We wanted to challenge that narrative and prove that our community deserves the same forward thinking solutions as anywhere else.

Pricing:

• Annual Pass-$90
• Day Pass-$8.50
• Casual ride-$5.00

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.bikeshareyoungstown.org/ and https://www.yogobikeshare.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yogo_bikeshare
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/YoGoBikes