City Has 'No Timetable' to Launch Bike Share Program in Queens
Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer has been on a quest to bring the city’s bike share program to his western Queens district. When the program was announced in 2012 he pushed the city to expand it to Queens and officials added 11 planned stations in Long Island City. He rallied on city hall steps to get…
Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer has been on a quest to bring the city’s bike share program to his western Queens district. When the program was announced in 2012 he pushed the city to expand it to Queens and officials added 11 planned stations in Long Island City. He rallied on city hall steps to get the Department of Transportation to move up its timetable for installing the stations. Just last week the Queens Tribune reported that the Long Island City stations would be up and running by September 10. The city had given Van Bramer the early fall date. Now, however, it seems that the bikes will not appear in September. In fact, its unclear when the bike share program will be rolled out here. According to The Daily News, Queens, the borough that has been demanding the bikes the loudest may have to wait a long time before they are available. Though the 11 Long Island City stations were supposed to be part of the initial May roll out of the program, which has thus far been centered in Manhattan below 59th Street and in northern Brooklyn, the Queens portion of the program has been delayed because of damage to the equipment from Hurricane Sandy. The program is waiting for hurricane relief resources before it can put up any new stations. According to the Daily News, now there is “no timetable” for installing stations in Queens. Van Bramer told the paper, “‘Queens isn’t on the map. It’s almost as if we don’t exist…We understand they’ve gotta raise bucks to get this done,’ he said. ‘They have not communicated properly to our office where this is at.'” One Brooklyn councilman wants to see the city invest money in expanding the program rather than letting Citi Bank finance it on its own, leaving Queens and other boroughs with long delays.
City should Help Foot Bill to spread Citi Bike Program, Councilman Brad Lander Sez [NY Daily News]
Western Queens Improving for Cyclists [Brownstoner Queens]
I would wait for a full audit prior to expansion. Anecdotal evidence points to over-concentration at lower Manhattan destinations. Reports of backlash bring into question further dock installations there.
The vendor wants to be paid, in order to pay off that big note, and show a profit. They will not get further into debt without serious planning in the outer boroughs.
Rather than pushing more bikes into Manhattan, perhaps far-flung bike stations should locate around outer- borough job centers and at existing MTA transit hubs(integration of modes).
Certainly any public investment needs a debate. Up until now the NYC DOT brags that no public money has been used. A reversal is big change. Any NYC/NYS/US investment would need to look at the ROI(get our money back) and benefits to transportation in NYC(no loss to MTA fares, less cars on the road, etc.).
I would wait for a full audit prior to expansion. Anecdotal evidence points to over-concentration at lower Manhattan destinations. Reports of backlash bring into question further dock installations.
The vendor wants to be paid, in order to pay off that big note, and show a profit. They will not get further into debt without serious planning in the outer boroughs.
Rather than pushing more bikes into Manhattan, perhaps far-flung bike stations should locate around outer- borough job centers and at existing MTA transit hubs(integration of modes).
Certainly any public investment needs a debate. Up until now the NYC DOT has brags that no public money has been used. A reversal is big change. Any NYC/NYS/US investment would need to look at the ROI(get our money back) and benefits to transportation in NYC(no lose to MTA fares, less cars on the road, etc.).
In just over a month, the experience in Manhattan has proven that not just these bikes, but bicycling in general is a viable, important and needed means of transportation. As more and more buildings go up in LIC and the area transforms from having been largely industrial to becoming one of the new hip residential neighborhoods, additional means of transportation are needed in that neighborhood. We really have no more room for new or expanded roads, so condensing traffic is the solution to growing congestion. Bicycles are one of the best ways to condense traffic and move more people over crowded road real estate. This is a perfect area to expand the program to, being just over the 59th Street Bridge from Manhattan. If the Citibike program is to thrive it needs to continue to grow and cement its position in the City as a means of transportation alongside subways, buses and taxis. Now that the concept has been proven with private funds, City DOT needs to step in and help fund this and future expansion.