✋ Before you go

• You have the choice between a regular bike or an all-electric assist bike (indicated with a lightning bolt decal on the back wheel.) Pro tip: the all-electric bike is recommended if you want assistance on hilly terrain or want to travel a bit faster.
• Decide how long and often you’d like to use the Blue Bikes. Explore the seven different payment options, ranging from $2.16 for a 45-minute Pay Per Ride to $102.60 for an Annual PLUS membership.
• Download the Blue Bike mobile app.
• Choose where you want to start and finish your ride using the interactive map feature. If you need some inspiration, explore popular itineraries.

🚲 Let’s ride

• Once you decide on a starting point, use the mobile app to unlock your bike and pull the bike out of the dock.
• Follow these safety tips.
• Once you finish your ride, find a docking station, push the bike firmly into the dock, and wait for the sound and the “docked bike” indication.
• DYK — the Blue Bike app keeps track of how many calories you’ve burned, how many miles you’ve traveled, the duration of your ride, and more?

✅ Pro tips

• Make sure to effectively inspect your bike before riding.
• You can ride anywhere as long as you remain within the system area and leaving the system area can result in penalties.

• Let’s Speak English | Thursday, Feb. 9 | 6:30-7:30 p.m. | Richland Library Southeast, 7421 Garners Ferry Rd., Columbia | Free | Join this conversation session and practice speaking English in a relaxed environment.
• West Columbia’s Meeting Street Artisan Market - NIGHT MARKET | Thursday, Feb. 9 | 4-8 p.m. | Interactive Art Park, 425 Meeting St., West Columbia | Free | Thursday’s Meeting Street Artisan Market offers handmade Valentine’s gifts.
• Table for Six: Health & Wellness | Thursday, Feb. 9 | 5:30-8 p.m. | Publico Five Points, 2013 Greene St., Columbia | $25-$35 | Participate in a patio workout hosted by Basecamp Fitness and then indulge in a nutritious, handcrafted menu.

• Blue Thumb Landscaper Conference | Friday, Feb. 10 | 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. | Busby Street Community Center, 1735 Busby St., Columbia | Free | Sign up for this in-person conference for grounds maintenance and landscaping professionals.
• “From the Mothers With Love” Sketch Show | Friday, Feb. 10-Saturday, Feb. 11 | Times vary | Trustus Theatre, 520 Lady St., Columbia | $5 | The Mothers, Trustus’ award-winning improv and sketch comedy group, will present their latest sketch show, “From the Mothers With Love.”
• Journey: Freedom Tour 2023 with special guest TOTO | Friday, Feb. 10 | 7:30 p.m. | Colonial Life Arena, 801 Lincoln St., Columbia | $35-$198.50 | Rock & Roll Hall of Famers will take the stage with their catalog of chart-topping hits, including “Don’t Stop Believin’,” “Any Way You Want It,” and “Lights.”

• Sandhills Trail & Ultra Festival - 24 Hour Run | Saturday, Feb. 11-Sunday, Feb. 12 | 9 a.m. | Sesquicentennial State Park, 9564 Two Notch Rd, Columbia | $50-$80 | Day of registration will be open until the race starts.

• 74º | Cloudy | 20% chance of rain

• No, No Name Deli isn’t moving. A New York development company purchased six properties near Elmwood and Bull streets for $2.125 million and plans to develop ~200 apartments, retail space, and parking. Read more here. (The Post and Courier)

• No. 1. That’s the ranking the Gamecocks Women’s Basketball team has (and has kept) for 33 weeks in a row on the AP Polls. Oh, by the way — that’s the longest streak in SEC history. 🏀

• $370,000. That’s the amount Central Carolina Community Foundation awarded to 14 local nonprofits through its Connected Communities grant. The grant will help support nonprofits as they launch projects that improve livability, equity, and community in the Midlands. 💰

• We’re shouting out a big congrats to ColaKicks after it announced opening a fifth location — this time in New York. The new store is set to open sometime in March and be located in the Tanger Outlets Long Island. 👟

• Today is National Pizza Day. Cheese the day by ordering a large ‘za from a local spot. If you knead some recommendations, crust us, you can’t go wrong with Blue Pizza, or Il Focolare Pizzeria. 🍕

• The way to many people’s hearts is through their stomachs, and these four local couples who double as business partners are no different. The Post and Courier sat down with these couples to hear how they navigate the tumultuous landscape of love and business. 💘

• Grammy-winning country music star and SC native Darius Rucker will be headlining Upcountry Fiber’s first charity concert, Southern Fried Circuit, on Friday, July 28 at the Anderson Civic Center (3027 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd., Anderson). Profits will go to the Upcountry Fiber Foundation to support local charities in Anderson, Greenville, Oconee, Pickens, and Spartanburg counties. Grab tickets. 🎶 *

• Have a teen interested in the healthcare field? Lexington Medical Center has two medical programs just for high schoolers. Learn about their summertime Partners Program for seniors + the partnership that makes a new medical assistant program for 10th graders possible.*

• Level up your sleep hygiene and wake up feeling well-rested with a little help from two top-rated products: this blackout sleep mask with ~9,000 five-star reviews and this sleek white noise machine complete with 31 different soothing sounds. 💤 *

• Transmission Arcade, 1712 Main St.
• Home Team BBQ, 700 Harden St.
• Peebles, 1332 Rosewood Dr.
• Sammi’s Deli, 2009 Greene St.
• Publix, choose one of the 15 stores near Columbia.
• D’s Wings, 415 Meeting St.
• Publick House, 2307 Devine St.