HOBOKEN—The last major roadblock in the path of the Hoboken-Weehawken bike share has fallen, and the program is expected to roll out in the next three months, though perhaps not as soon as originally planned.
German manufacturer NextBike has been certified by the Federal Communications Commission, paving the way for its hybrid “smart bike” technology to be deployed in a planned system in Hoboken and Weehawken, according to a Feb. 15 press release from the company.
The specially designed bicycles, which use smart docking stations but can also be locked to any structure, will also be installed in Pittsburgh and West Palm Beach this year.
Despite the approval, an official start date for the Hoboken program has yet to be announced. The city had pegged the bike share to a March 2015 debut last December, but earlier this week, city spokesman Juan Melli would only specify that the program would launch in “early spring.”
Originally scheduled to debut last summer, the Lower Hudson bike share was held up by an abortive search for private funding and the departure of partner municipality Jersey City, which now plans to join New York’s CitiBike system, possibly by this year.
As Hoboken expands its bike share offerings, it will also be expanding its network of bicycle-safe areas on city streets. A new $530,000 grant from the New Jersey Department of Transportation, announced by the city this week, will fund striping for nearly 15 miles of dedicated bike lanes and shared bike lanes in long-lasting thermoplastic paint.
Once implemented, 75 percent of municipal roadways in Hoboken will have either bike lanes or shared lane markings. The city will also realize cost savings on maintenance since thermoplastic paint has a life expectancy up to 8 times longer than standard road paint.
“Bike lanes don’t just benefit bikes,” said Mayor Dawn Zimmer. “They have traffic calming benefits that make streets safer for everyone and are one part of an overall transportation approach to make getting around Hoboken safer and more convenient for those who walk, bike, take public transportation, and drive.”
“Hoboken continues to be the example all other municipalities should follow in its efforts to reduce congestion, decrease carbon emissions and improve connectivity with alternate modes of transportation,” said Jay DiDomenico, Director of the Hudson Transportation Management Association.
“Since the inception of our bike lane program, residents have taken to using bikes more and more to commute about Hoboken, to tend to their chores, to transport their children to one of our many schools, to enjoy a meal at one of our many restaurants and best of all to enjoy the jewel of the city, our award winning waterfront,” said Brian Wagner, lead advocate for Bike Hoboken. “This grant will enable Hoboken to further enhance the growing network of bike lanes, ensuring greater safety for our residents and many visitors who ride their own bike or start using our new bike share bikes.”
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