Syracuse this summer selected a third-party bicycle sharing company to introduce 150 bikes throughout the city as part of an effort to improve mobility and accessibility.

A committee organized by the city selected Gotcha Bike, a bicycle sharing company based in Charleston, South Carolina, to offer local commuters a low-cost mode of transportation for the next two years.

Gotcha Bike offers “sustainable mobility solutions that get people where they need to go,” according to the company’s website.

Bikes can be reserved through a mobile app or through the bike’s keypad. A rider can unlock the bikes by entering a four-digit code and return the bike to any docking location in the city. While many bicycle sharing programs are credit card dependent or only accessible by smartphone, Gotcha Bike allows people to pay with cash, a credit card, a smartphone or a basic cell phone.

A total of 150 bikes will be available throughout the city for use with a $25 annual subscription, said Joe Driscoll, common councilor of Syracuse’s 5th district. Driscoll was on the committee that chose Gotcha Bike as the lead program agency. Other companies that applied to bring programs to Syracuse set their model price points between $75 to $100 annually, he said.

Bicycle sharing is a potential solution to two of Syracuse’s central issues, including poverty and lack of access to transportation, Driscoll said.

“This (program) would give a lot of people that extra footing,” Driscoll said.

Driscoll added that the bicycle sharing committee chose Gotcha Bike because of its experience in more than 20 different municipalities, some with weather similar to Syracuse.

Chris Fowler, who founded Slow Roll Syracuse, a community-based bicycling group, last summer used multimodal transportation as a centerpiece of his campaign when he launched a bid for Syracuse mayor.

He said he’s seen firsthand how biking can bring members of a community together and empower neighborhoods.

“You’re going to see a significant increase in usage of people cycling because of the convenience of the program,” he said. “You don’t have to worry about a lock or (other) things that could come with commuting by bike.”

The bicycle sharing program was approved at zero cost to the city. The Department of Public Works hopes to use a $350,000 grant under the New York State Department of Transportation’s Transportation Alternatives Program to construct bicycle facilities along Lodi Street and nearby streets, according to the July 30 Common Council agenda.

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Driscoll said a map of bicycle locations has not yet been created, but the city is hoping to focus on equity to make sure that it’s able to reach all corners of the city.

Gotcha Bike will be looking to partner with local sponsors to cover some of the bicycle costs. Driscoll said the new program also has the potential to create new jobs for people to look after and maintain the bikes.

James Lampman, sales manager at Syracuse Bicycle, said he thinks the program is a step in the right direction for the residents of Syracuse. He said that there’s opportunity for his business to grow, even if cyclists aren’t riding his bikes, because people may come in looking for things such as helmets or pumps.

“It can really only do good things to get more people on bikes,” he said. “Adding more people to the bike community is awesome. I think it only just opens the door and gets the opportunity to get more people on bikes.”

Published on August 28, 2018 at 9:41 pm

Contact Jaspreet: jgill01@syr.edu