A concept already introduced to dozens of cities across the nation is coming soon to Buffalo.
Beginning this summer, subscribers will be able to log on and reserve a bike through a program known as Reddy Bikeshare. It is being launched by two partners, health insurance provider Independent Health and the organization Shared Mobility, Inc.
Project planners anticipate the program will be appealing to both casual and regular users.
"A traditional tourist would be a great member, that is coming into the city. At the waterfront if you see a bike-share bike, you could take it to Allentown," said Mike Galligano, CEO of Shared Mobility, Inc. "And then there's those members that need to use this as the 'last mile,' we'll say. You get off the bus, you can take a bike-share bike to the next part of your destination, so where public transportation doesn't fit, bike share may."
Shared Mobility, Inc. ran a pilot project on the University at Buffalo campus last year, in which students used 40 bikes on 75-hundred trips, logging over 11-thousand miles. The City of Buffalo's program will make 200 bikes available to paying subscribers.
The bikes will be equipped with GPS technology so that each unit can be tracked. The bikes will also monitor calories burned, miles traveled and time spend pedaling.
"There's so many benefits to this. I think that's why we're so excited about it," said Cathy Hoelscher Glieco, vice president of marketing for Independent Health. "The great thing about the bikes is they're the most technologically advanced bike system that is offered across the country. What's great about that is we can measure how many miles you've biked, the calories you've burned, how long you are on the bike."
When Reddy Bikeshare is fully operational, users will have a website as well as a mobile app to look up and reserve a bike. In the meantime, a website has been established allowing interested users to learn more information. That website is reddybikeshare.socialbicycles.com.
