The City of Rochester has reportedly dedicated itself to becoming a bike-friendly place. According to the city’s website, 64 lane miles of on-street bike facilities have been installed since 2011, with another 140 miles planned to be added. But given that Rochester’s short-lived bike share program shut down in the spring, there have been few options for residents who want to eschew gas-guzzling transportation. Automotive applications dominate the powder coating industry and represent harmful carbon emissions — but short from buying a bike outright, how can locals get around on two wheels? The answer might be found in a recently approved bike-sharing alternative.
While there are 24,833,000 hours of general aviation flight logged every year, no one’s renting a helicopter to get around the Flower City. And while many people in the area own an automobile, doing so isn’t always feasible. And given the problems associated with public transit, particularly in the midst of a pandemic, Rochester locals are actively seeking ways to get around safely and in a way that supports both their own health and that of the planet.
The city’s former bike-sharing program, which was operated by Pace and its parent company Zagster, was a popular one. In fact, Pace claimed last year that Rochester had more registered riders than any other city in which the company operates. But while Pace initially stated that the start of the season would be delayed due to COVID-19, Mayor Lovely Warren’s chief of staff, Alex Yudelson, made the announcement in April that the program would be leaving Rochester — along with some other select cities — for good. Despite the fact that the bike share program had one season remaining, Rochester’s exclusive deal with Pace was cut short.
That doesn’t spell the end for bike sharing in Rochester, however. Earlier this month, legislation was put before the Rochester City Council to authorize a bike-sharing program that would include e-scooters and e-bikes. HOPR, a program based out of Miami, would provide the city with exclusive control over its shared mobility system. The Council voted unanimously in favor of the program, which will essentially have a soft launch in September. A full launch will be delayed until the spring due to the ongoing pandemic, but even in a limited capacity, officials are invigorated by this latest development.
Explained Yudelson, “It’s really going to be to test out the bike, app, sidewalks to make sure everything is working in harmony. As soon as weather turns into Spring, hopefully it will be a full-fledged system that includes bikes, scooters, and electric ones as well.”
Yudelson added that safety will be a major priority. Although there were 5,172 fatal motorcycle accidents nationwide in 2017, cyclist safety is also a major concern for many. Electric scooters and bikes used to be outlawed in New York, but the state now allows them to be operated safely — as long as rules are followed. Yudelson pointed out that many Rochester roads feature bike lanes and that HOPR will be working with local colleges and even some of the area’s suburbs to ensure service can be as far-reaching as possible. Thus far, HOPR has identified Brighton, Fairport, Brockport, Sweden, Irondequoit, Greece, and Pittsford as prime spots for potential station locations.
Yudelson stated, “It really is going to be a partnership through the city, the suburbs and Regional Transit Service. Folks from suburbs and folks from the city can cross-pollinate and have different options to get to, whether it’s Twelve Corners or somewhere in Henrietta, and for folks in the suburbs to enjoy the city.”
If all goes according to plan, Rochesterians could be enjoying a new bike-share program as early as next month. While there may not be much to look forward to these days, at least this might be a bright spot for some environmentally-conscious local residents.
