Bedford-Stuyvesant

Citi Bike a surprising success in Bed-Stuy, study finds

Restoration Corp. says rides increased significantly in 2016

April 5, 2017 By Paula Katinas Brooklyn Daily Eagle
Councilmember Robert Cornegy Jr., pictured here with local officials and bike enthusiasts, has helped to boost awareness of bicycle safety in the community. Photo courtesy of Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corp.
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An eye-opening new report sheds light on the surprising success of the Citi Bike bicycle-sharing program in Bedford-Stuyvesant and offers suggestions on how to replicate that achievement in other low-income communities of color around New York City.

The report, titled “Bringing Equitable Bike Share to Bed-Stuy,” was commissioned by the Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation in partnership with the National Association of City Transportation Officials. The study found that Citi Bike has seen a great deal of success in Bed-Stuy since it was introduced in 2013.

Among its findings: nearly 200,000 more Citi Bike rides took place in Bed-Stuy in 2016 than in 2015. The impressive growth in ridership in Bed-Stuy is above the city average, according to the report.

Bed-Stuy has several Citi Bike stations, including one at Fulton Street and Verona Place.

The study highlights a 2015 effort in which Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation (also known as Restoration) partnered with Citi Bike, the Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Department of Health (DOH) to encourage participation in bike-sharing in Bed-Stuy through a series of outreach events that included community bike rides and helmet fittings.

“People must be able to get to work and school, and with a limited budget, transportation can oftentimes present a significant barrier to opportunities like employment and education. Citi Bike presents an affordable and convenient transportation alternative with subsequent health benefits. We’ve learned a lot along the way and want to share these lessons and best practices with the broader community in hopes that neighborhoods everywhere follow our lead,” said Restoration CEO and President Colvin Grannum.

Back in 2013, when Citi Bike arrived in Bed-Stuy, many longtime residents were skeptical of the program, believing it would be a harbinger of gentrification, according to the report.

But leaders of Restoration went about trying to change public perception.

“We wanted to change neighborhood conversation from focusing on gentrification to exploring how bike share can help residents achieve their personal goals,” said Tracey Capers, executive vice president for programs at Restoration.

DOT Commissioner Polly Trottenberg said the efforts made by Restoration have “made a real difference in getting the community to embrace bike share.”

The report also details Restoration’s work in promoting cycling as an active lifestyle choice and an affordable transportation option for the Bed-Stuy community. For the past two years, the organization has hosted more than 80 community rides under a program called the Better Bike Share Partnership. To date, the program has attracted more than 2,000 local residents.

“The changes rooted in the voices and values of its residents will have a lasting positive impact,” said Dr. Mary T. Bassett, commissioner of DOH. “Restoration’s Better Bike Share Partnership is an example of the tremendous gains that can be made when this happens.”

Councilmember Robert Cornegy Jr. (D-Bedford-Stuyvesant) has participated in several bike safety events in the community.

“Bed-Stuy’s Better Bike Share Partnership has demonstrated that bike share can thrive in low-income [communities] and communities of color. We have witnessed first-hand the program bolster the business community, benefiting both residents and visitors alike,” he said.

Throughout this year, Restoration will be leading 15 events to help residents incorporate the benefits of bike-sharing into their lives, including bike safety classes.

Citi Bike, named after its sponsor Citigroup, is a bike sharing program introduced in New York City in 2013. For a fee, riders pick up bikes at docking stations and are able to use them for short rides. Riders can return the bikes at other docking stations.

Citi Bike has 10,000 bikes at 600 docking stations in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens and Jersey City.

To read the full “Bringing Equitable Bike Share to Bed-Stuy” report, visit restorationplaza.org/sites/default/files/Restoration-NACTO_BikeShareEquity_Report_WEB_FINAL.pdf

 

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