Since then, bike share has gained considerable momentum, earning start-up funding from two state agencies, NYSERDA and NYSDOT as well as the Seneca Nation Buffalo Creek Development Fund. A working partnership has formed between CarShare, GO Bike Buffalo (formerly Green Options Buffalo), and the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, and the University at Buffalo is also partnering with Buffalo CarShare to pilot the program on campus as "Bike Share at UB". With start-up costs covered, Buffalo Bike Share is ready to begin a system beta test this year.
Buffalo will be the first large-scale implementation of the innovative Social Bicycles (SoBi) GPS-enabled bike share system, and UB will be the first institution of higher education to implement this technology.
"We plan to beta test this new technology in multiple different areas in the upcoming months. Since this is so new and innovative, we will rely on our beta testers, partners and the community to help make this a success in Buffalo." - Michael Galligano (Director of Operations, Buffalo CarShare). These early adopters will be granted access to any of the bikes within the system at a special introductory rate. The program will then rely on feedback from its beta group in order to shape the future of the user experience.
You can apply to become a beta tester by filling out this quick survey
In addition, Buffalo CarShare is looking to hire a BikeShare Coordinator starting in August to lead the rollout of the cutting-edge system. If this sounds like a challenge that you or a friend would be up to, check out the full job posting here.
Keep your eyes peeled for the smart white bikes with the SoBi logo.
In the interim, stay informed with the most up to date information by liking BikeShare on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/Bflobikeshare
Photo: Larry Stevens and Henry Raess prepare to get the Social Bicycles on the road
I have to ask, why would you participate (and pay money) in sharing a bike when you can buy a decent one used or new for less than $200? I totally get the carshare concept but these are bicycles that can store anywhere and cost virtually nothing in maintenance. What is the benefit in a relatively small city like Buffalo?
From the looks of it those bikes are in the $400 range new (minus the GPS system of course). I just don't get it?
Sometimes you don't want the hassle of having to lock up your bike (and worry about it) at your destination. Some people don't have secure bicycle parking at work, and bike share could be a good commuting tool.
Sometimes you are taking a bike to a subway station or bus stop and can't or don't want to bring your bike with you.
And of course it is very convenient for visitors like tourists, although Buffalo doesn't have a huge number of them.
Well I get renting bikes to tourists, visitors, etc., but I can't think of anywhere you can't lock a bike up securely assuming you own a decent lock. As for the bus or subway riders I suppose this would be convenient as a means of getting to a bus stop and not having to worry about the bike. But unless this is free and there's a hub every 1/4 square mile it would be more of a hassle to have to schedule your life around borrowing a bike, riding to a bus stop and then having to wait for public transportation to take you somehwere. At that point you'd have to allow 2 hours each way just to commute a few miles. Who has that kind of time?
I still don't see the benefit over owning your own bike. I'm sure people will cream their pants over this but I don't get it. I own a bike, a car, a couple scooters, plus I walk and I have to tell you it's nice to have those options and choose on my own schedule, but to each their own I guess.
Many people don't like to leave their bike unattended outdoors for 8-9 hours, even with a good lock.
Most bike share schemes are free for the first 30-45 minutes (plus an annual fee), which covers most intracity commutes. I don't know how the pricing is planned for this system.
You know, I share a lot of your puzzlement (why use bike share when you can buy a working used bike for under $100?) but bike sharing has been successful in literally every single city where it has rolled out on a large scale.
Hugely popular in Washington, DC, so much so that they have to keep expanding it to meet demand. It's most regulars using it. I suppose there is a different reason for every person usin it. Some like the convenience. Not everyone can easily store a bike at home or work.
Hugely popular in Washington, DC, so much so that they have to keep expanding it to meet demand. It's most regulars using it. I suppose there is a different reason for every person usin it. Some like the convenience. Not everyone can easily store a bike at home or work.
Consider a spur of the moment event. I work downtown and need to get up to, say, Summer and Elmwood, during my lunch hour. Or head over to Tops on Niagara. Or you just would like to simply buzz around and clear your head, again during your lunch hour. I never bring my car downtown for work. I'm always hoping for a scooter rental business to materialize, but either way, it is simply marvelous to have these kinds of options
for what it is worth, i know more than one person in buffalo who has had their garage, shed, or vehicle broken into in order to steal their bicycle. plenty of renters don't have basements or garages in which to store their bikes.