Bike Shares Coming to Bed-Stuy

Thanks to the New York City Department of Transportation (DOT), a new, low-cost, 24-hour transportation system soon will be coming New York City’s way: Bike Shares.

Think of it as “Zip Cars,” but for bikes.

Expected arrival of the first set of stations is 2012. At that time, approximately 600 self-service bicycle portals holding 10,000 bikes will be erected in select neighborhoods around New York City, including Bedford-Stuyvesant.

DOT Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan and Deputy Mayor Howard Wolfson made the announcement on Wednesday, along with the selection of Alta Bicycle Share, Inc. as the company that will develop and operate the privately funded bike share system.

“Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation is eager to facilitate the implementation of Bike Share in Bedford-Stuyvesant,” said Colvin W. Grannum, president and CEO of Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation.

“We see innumerable benefits to local business and individual health. Local streets are likely to be less congested which should facilitate local residents in navigating community thoroughfares more easily and patronizing more local business.”

Now that New York City’s streets are reportedly the safest in recorded history (cycling injury and fatality rates have fallen or remained flat at the same time as the number of cyclists has more than doubled), NYC will be joining a host of other national and international cities already using bike shares, including Washington, DC, Boston, Denver, Montreal, Toronto and London.

The program would allow New Yorkers access to bikes for short-distance rentals, without worrying about bike parking, bike storage or theft. Additionally, “Bike Share will assist local residents in increasing their levels of fitness while staying connected to the sights, sounds and experiences of the local streets,” Grannum said.

New York City’s bike share stations will be solar-powered, will require no installation, and smartphone apps will give users real-time information about bike and station availability. 

According to the DOT, approximately 200 local jobs will be created for maintenance and support of the system. Alta will be responsible for all other system operations, including installation, maintenance, repairs, cleaning and customer support.

Annual membership will be around $100 – less than a monthly unlimited-ride Metro Card – entitling users to an unlimited number of short duration trips, (no more than 45 minutes), while longer trips will be charged according to a small, graduated usage fee. Alta and DOT are still working out the final rates. But day and with weekly memberships also will be made available.

So, Bed-Stuy bikers get ready to buy your helmets and knee pads and, most importantly, prepare to brush up on the bicycle rules of the road. It looks like, sooner than later, this transportation “alternative” will become the standard.

The following are dates and stations where New Yorkers will have a chance to test out the bikes and equipment and provide their input:

Saturday, 9/17: DUMBO/Manhattan Bridge Arch, Brooklyn. 12-4 p.m.

Wednesday, 9/21: Bowling Green, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

Saturday, 9/24: Brooklyn Flea, Ft. Greene, Brooklyn, 12-4 p.m.

Thursday, 9/29: Union Square 12- 6 p.m.

Sunday, 10/2: Atlantic Antic (Atlantic Avenue) 12-6 p.m.