The New York University Bike Share Program today expanded its capacity by 150%, adding 45 bikes to its fleet. This brings the total to 75 bikes available at 10 locations across lower Manhattan.

NYU’s Bike Share Rolls Out 45 New Bikes For Spring 2012
NYU Bike Share bikes being assembled in WSQ Park, 3-21-2012

***ATTENTION PLANNING EDITORS***

Kick-off Event, March 21, 2012, at 12PM, on Washington Place at Washington Square Park

The New York University Bike Share Program today is expanding its capacity by 150%, adding 45 bikes to its fleet.  This will bring the total to 75 bikes available at 10 locations across lower Manhattan.  The bikes, painted a distinctive purple, will arrive at NYU on Wednesday, March 21, 2012, at 12pm on Washington Place and Washington Square East.

Reporters interested in covering or participating in the event should contact Christopher James, 212.998.6876(o), 347.421.0835(m), or christopher.james@nyu.edu

Launched in the fall of 2008, the NYU Bike Share is the first free bike lending program in New York City and the first program of its kind at a large urban university. The Bike Share system was funded by a "Green Grant" from the Sustainability Task Force at NYU.  Modeled after the Velíb program in Paris, this student led initiative is now a permanent offering with free membership available to all NYU students, faculty and staff. It's founded on the idea that bicycling can be safe, healthy, sustainable, and a fun way to get around town.

“When we started there were bikes at 2 locations and we only had 1-2 rentals a week,” said Mike Sandmel, Bike Share Coordinator for NYU Sustainability.  “We now have 10 locations and over 1000 users who take out about 30 rentals a week in the winter and at least triple that in good weather,” Sandmel said.

The bikes are an easy-riding single-speed roadster model, made in Queens, NY, at Worksman Cycles, in a solar-powered factory.  The bikes come equipped with bells, lights, and front baskets and can be adjusted to be ridden comfortably by people of most heights. All NYU Bike Share bikes are lent out with helmets and locks.

“Before students can check out a bike, they go through a training program which covers the fundamentals of borrowing and returning the bikes, the NYC Bike Map, rules of the road, tips for safe riding and staying visible, and tips for locking up without fear of theft,” said Jeremy Freidman, NYU’s Manager, Sustainability Initiatives.  “In part thanks to safety training for participants, there have been zero reported injuries on NYU Bike Share bikes -- and no theft or loss of any bike in the program,” he added.

For more information on the NYU Bike Share Program, please visit: www.nyu.edu/sustainability/campus.projects/bike.share/

NYU’s Sustainability Task Force is an advisory body composed of students, faculty, administrators, and staff, who develop recommendations for new policies and practices that advance NYU’s long-term future as a sustainable university. For more information on the Sustainability Task Force, please go to http://www.nyu.edu/sustainability



NYU Bike Share Worksman Cycle 2012


NYU Bikeshare students in a training workshop, November 2008.

Press Contact

Christopher James
Christopher James
(212) 998-6876