HOBOKEN TO LAUNCH 1ST HYBRID BIKE RENTAL & BIKE SHARE PROGRAM
Bike-share pilot will be among first to explore less expensive, more flexible “smart-lock” approach
Hoboken is proud to partner with E3Think, Bike And Roll and Social Bicycles (SoBi) to launch the nation’s first hybrid bike rental and bike share program.
The program will bring traditional bike rental and waterfront bike tours along with a 6-month pilot bike-sharing program to Hoboken at no cost to the city. Bike rentals for Hoboken residents and visitors will be available on the waterfront near Pier A for longer recreational rides. Similar to Hoboken’s Corner Cars car-sharing program, residents will also be able to reserve bikes online and by mobile phone and use them for commuting and short trips.
“Bike sharing is taking off in cities across the country and the world, but this pilot program to explore a lower cost, more flexible ‘smart-lock’ approach to bike sharing has the potential to change the future of urban mobility on a larger scale,” said Mayor Dawn Zimmer. “Hoboken has been recognized as a leader in transportation innovation, and we will continue to work to bring more sustainable, healthy, and affordable transportation alternatives to our community.”
Almost all existing bike sharing systems rely on a “smart dock” approach for storing bicycles, which requires expensive infrastructure for the docking stations. The “smart lock” approach relies on bicycles with built-in locks and communications equipment at a fraction of the cost of traditional systems and can be locked to standard bicycle racks.
“We are proud to partner with the city and look forward to bringing our operational expertise to Hoboken,” said Chris Wogas, President of Bike And Roll. “The bike rental and bike share program will offer additional commuting options and create new experiences for residents, as well as showcase the City of Hoboken to visitors.”
During the pilot, the city and its partners will collect data and seek sponsorship opportunities to help plan a full-scale, city-wide bike share system. Profits from the program will be split 50/50 with the city.
Bike And Roll (www.bikeandroll.com) is the country's largest bike rental and tours company. SoBi (www.socialbicycles.com) manufactures "smart lock" bicycles equipped with GPS, mobile communications, and a secure lock for use in bike-sharing systems. E3Think (www.e3think.com) is a consultancy focused on the deployment of investment-grade, urban invention.
More details will be announced soon.
Contact: Juan Melli