Home
Classifieds
Coupons
Contests
Subscribe
Work with us
Cloudy and Windy,65°
Thursday, May 23, 2013
City approves bike-sharing program
Amid criticism, council votes 3-2 for Decobike
By Anthony Rifilato
Photos Courtesy John McLaughlin
The city approved a contract with Decobike on July 5 to launch a bike-sharing program in Long Beach, which will begin on a limited basis this fall.

The City Council approved a partnership with a Miami-based company last week to launch a public bicycle-sharing program that would make roughly 400 bikes available on Long Beach streets, at no cost to the city. Before the vote, however, residents and business owners voiced concerns about the plan’s impact on local bike shops, safety and residents’ quality of life.

At its July 5 meeting, the council voted 3-2 to approve a five-year contract — with an option to renew — with Decobike, a company that operates a similar program in Miami Beach. Under the terms of the contract, Decobike will set up 20 to 30 rental kiosks at locations throughout the city, and the city will receive 10 percent of Decobike’s gross income and 10 percent of its advertising income.

At the solar-powered kiosks, users will rent bikes with credit cards and drop them off — at the same location or at any other kiosk — when they are finished with them.

The company is investing $1 million in the initiative, city officials said, and is also assuming the costs of installing bike lanes throughout the city next year. The program will start on a limited basis this fall and expand next spring, although Decobike has yet to determine rental rates.

City Manager Charles Theofan said that the program could generate as much as $300,000 in annual revenue for the city and as much as $5 million for Decobike. “If Decobike is not successful, if that unfortunate reality should come, there will be no loss to this city,” Theofan said.

The vote came two weeks after the council tabled the proposal, when three council members said that the program needed further review. “The reason I voted to table this was, I was concerned about the aesthetics of it, I was concerned about not hearing much in the proposal about bike lanes and, quite frankly, I was concerned about the local businesses,” said Council President Thomas Sofield Jr., adding that he was impressed by a “Decostation” that was on display on the boardwalk over the July Fourth weekend.

Not registered? Click here
E-mail this
Print this
Comments
3 comments on this item

How about making it a requirement that the bicycles be MADE IN AMERICA!!!!

Once again the residents of Long Beach are bumped for outsiders. We have bike shops here in this city. One of which I had spoken to the owner recently, had said he was trying to get the city to allow him to rent out bikes at the boardwalk. True or not? I don't know. But one thing is for sure, many accidents have happened involving bikes and cars. If the city hasn't been able to put bike lanes in place for its residents, why then would the city MAGICALLY put them in place for an OUTSIDE company? BECAUSE THE CITY MANAGER and THE COUNCIL CAN! We, the residents, do NOT count as much as the OUTSIDERS that come in here. In the summer, it is ROLL OUT THE RED CARPET for illegal apartment rentals and overcrowding in the streets with cars. Now, MAGICALLY, the city can find a way to make bike lanes for outsiders. But as residents, when we ride our bikes, they say we have to ride in the street. In the shopping areas, you take your life in your hands with double parked cars, illegally parked cars, and just plain NUTS trying to beat the light. ALL valid complaints to the council on several occasions, but on deaf ears. Oh, wait a minute, I forgot, those complaints came from RESIDENTS OF LONG BEACH.

GREAT IDEA! However, the only thought I would like to add at this time is the need to incorporate bike lanes, especially since Channel 12 news stated this morning, that there are more bike related accidents on the road than car accidents on Long Island. As such, the absolute need for bike lanes in our area as well as other areas on Long Island need to be addressed ASAP for the safety of ALL concerned.

You must be logged in to post a comment. Click here to log in.
Terms of Use | Advertising | Press Release | Careers | Contact Us | Community Links                         © 2013 Richner Communications, Inc.