Photos of the Event are Available Here
Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone, Zagster and Bethpage Federal Credit Union today announced the credit union's sponsorship of Suffolk County’s Bike Share program, Bethpage Ride, the first of its kind on Long Island. The generous sponsorship will allow the County to launch the bike share system this August with 100 bikes and 24 stations throughout four communities across Suffolk County, including Patchogue and Babylon.
“Our bike share program will not only reduce congestion on our roadways, but will help provide the critical first and last-mile connection when using public transit,” said County Executive Bellone. “Thanks to our official sponsor Bethpage Federal Credit Union, this summer, residents throughout Suffolk will be able to go to a nearby train station, park, or downtown area, and right through an app on their phone, have instant access to a comfortable, user-friendly bike.”
“What a tremendous asset for village residents and visitors to travel through our village and experience our greenway from Argyle Lake to Belmont park,” said Village of Babylon Mayor Ralph Scordino.
“Bethpage is thrilled to fund Long Island’s very first bike share program, a world-wide concept that millions benefit from daily, that will now be available right here on Long Island,” said Linda Armyn, Senior Vice President, Bethpage Federal Credit Union. “There are countless benefits to the region, to the participating communities, to the residents, and also to visitors. We’re very excited to help roll it out. It’s a win-win for all.”
“Bethpage is providing the residents of Suffolk Country with a tremendous bike sharing service by providing a last-mile solution that, at the same time, encourages a healthy, active lifestyle,” Dan Grossman, CEO, Zagster, said. “We look forward to continuing to work with Suffolk County to address all of its micro-mobility needs.”
Last May, the County awarded Zagster, the industry’s leading operations platform for the micro-mobility sharing economy, a contract to implement its Pace bicycle-share service for communities across Suffolk County.
Zagster is responsible for designing, building, financing and operating this first-of-its-kind regional bike-share program in Suffolk County – at no cost to County taxpayers, towns, or villages. This program will boost the local economy by increasing tourism, extending the reach of existing transit networks, and will provide the critical last-mile connection between transportation hubs, popular destinations, and our vibrant downtown areas.
The goals of this regional bike share program include decreasing the use of the automobile as the primary mode of transportation, encouraging a more active, healthier lifestyle by providing bicycles for intermittent recreational use, and establishing a stronger bicycle network in Suffolk County, complete with new bike lanes which will support infrastructure.
The program includes modern technology features that can be accessed through smartphone devices, making it simple and accessible. Once launched, users will have the ability to download an app and will either be able to pay per ride or buy a membership.
Riders have several different rental options with Bethpage Ride. Riders can pay $1 per 15 minutes, but can also opt for a monthly plan for $10 or a yearly plan for $60 per year. Both plans allow for unlimited trips of up to 30 minutes.
“BikeShare programs are one of the most popular and convenient forms of transportation across the country and it’s exciting to see this trend established on Long Island,” said Kristen Jarnagin, President & CEO of Discover Long Island. “Providing alternative transportation options allows Long Island’s visitor economy to continue to grow and thrive by increasing exposure to our vibrant downtowns and supporting local businesses while decreasing traffic and environmental impacts.”
“We applaud County Executive Steve Bellone’s leadership in bringing bikeshare to Suffolk County“,said Rosemary Mascali, co-chair USGBC-LI Sustainable Transportation Committee. “A common bikeshare platform across Suffolk County will not only provide bikes for recreational use but expand first mile last mile options for commuters.”
To complement this program, the Suffolk County Department of Economic Development and Planning is currently working to develop a county-wide Hike-Bike Network Master Plan for improving hike-bike infrastructure for pedestrians and cyclists across the region. The plan will provide Suffolk County with a comprehensive and coordinated vision for a connected network of hiking and biking trails County-wide, facilitating transportation, recreation, tourism, and economic development. A completed master plan and suite of recommendations are expected by the end of 2019.
The Regional Bike-Share program complements County Executive Bellone’s Connect Long Island Plan – a regional transportation and development initiative that promotes sustainable long-term economic growth in Suffolk County. The plan calls for development around transit nodes, investment in enhancements to existing mass transit infrastructure, and implementation of new rapid transit systems to create a robust transit network that connect regional assets and downtowns.
About Zagster
Since 2007, Zagster has been at the forefront of the micro-mobility revolution. We know that the promise of micro-mobility is anchored in world-class operations. As such, Zagster offers turnkey operations and support services for any micro-mobility product. We strive to make shared mobility work within communities large and small. We currently operate more than 250 micro-mobility vehicle shares across 35 states. We understand that although the scooters, pedal bikes and e-bikes are swappable, the professional service operations are not. At Zagster, we help communities and partners build and operate best-in-class solutions. Let us be your ride. Visit us athttps://www.zagster.com/ and on Twitter @zagster.
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