Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla and Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop announced plans for a combined bike share program for both cities, making a commitment to go out to bid and selecting the same company.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“Both Hoboken and Jersey City are leaders in advancing alternative transportation options, and we are thrilled to partner together to utilize the same regional bike share program for our cities,†Bhalla and Fulop said in a joint statement.
“Now, more than ever, a greater number of people are relying on shared transportation for essential services, employment, and more, and a regional approach will substantially improve the quality of life for all of our residents. And, as our communities continue to adapt to COVID-19, this coordinated effort will provide residents and visitors with healthy, socially distanced alternatives to mass transit.â€
By choosing one bike share company for both cities, Bhalla and Fulop are seeking to achieve greater regional connectivity and mobility within both cities, making it easier for residents and visitors to travel within the two communities.
A number of residents within Hoboken and Jersey City regularly commute to and from both cities, and a regional bike share option will provide easier access to employment opportunities and improve both cities regional economies.
A regional bike share company will also help advance safer, alternative transportation options, a central component of both cities’ Vision Zero campaigns to eliminate pedestrian fatalities and serious injuries within 10 years or less.
Jersey City and Hoboken are two of the most bike-friendly communities in New Jersey, with a combined 75 miles of protected bike lanes, conventional bike lanes, and shared lanes.
Currently, the City of Hoboken utilizes Jersey Bike, while Jersey City uses Citi Bike.
On a vaguely related note, 1st Ward Councilman Mike DeFusco is proposing legislation that would allow residents to safely secure their bicycles in Municipal Parking Garages.
The ordinance, up for first reading on Wednesday night, would create a permitting process with a $52 annual fee and require bicycles to display a small City of Hoboken placard, similarly to on street residential parking regulations.
Additionally, bicycles granted subsidized permits will be required to install and maintain front and rear tail lights.
“Over the past five years, I’ve continued to push for legislation and infrastructure projects that make our streets safer, more walkable and bicyclist-friendly for all of Hoboken,†DeFusco said in his own statement.
“As more residents rely on bicycles as their primary mode of transportation, it’s important for us to properly activate space within our city that reflects this shift. Sharing the street requires drivers and cyclists alike to work together and abide by the rules and the more bikes with lights on the road helps protect the safety of everyone.”