Toward the end of summer, bicycle docking stations began to pop up around Jersey City, the first visible signs of the new Citi Bike program. On Sept. 23, after nearly two years of planning, Mayor Steven Fulop and representatives from the program’s sponsors cut the ribbon at the Citi Bike station in the Newark Avenue Pedestrian Plaza.
With 350 bikes at 35 stations, the Citi Bike program, according to the city, offers a new public transportation option in one of the most densely-populated cities in the state.
Originally, Jersey City had planned to partner with Hoboken and Weehawken. Mayor Fulop changed direction earlier this year, deciding to mesh the local program with the highly successful Citi Bike program in New York City.
After cutting the ribbon at the docking station near the Grove Street PATH station, officials mounted bicycles for a symbolic two block ride down Grove Street to the docking station in front of City Hall.
Citi Bike Jersey City, Fulop said, is supported by sponsorships and other revenues, not from municipal taxes. This makes Jersey City the only mid-sized city in the nation to run a bike-share program without government funding.
Fulop said he had worked for about two years to get this program off the ground
“This is one of the most exciting things we’ve done this year,” he said, noting it has been years since a new transportation system had been unveiled in the area.
“It’s not very often that a city gets a completely new public transit system.” – Mayor Steven Fulop
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Jay Walder, president & CEO of Motivate, the company that oversees the program, said Citi Bike Jersey City had phenomenal sponsors. This includes Citi (of Citi Card and other financial companies) as the title sponsor, and the Horizon Foundation for New Jersey, SUEZ North America, CarePoint Health and Jersey City Medical Center–Barnabas Health as founding sponsors.
Goldman Sachs picked up a portion of the $2 million start up costs, paying for the initial purchase of docking stations and bicycles.
Commuters were the motive
Fulop said part of the reason for going with Citi Bike rather joining with Hoboken and Weehawken had to do with the number of Jersey City residents commuting to New York. The Jersey City system is fully interoperable with New York City’s Citi Bike, so commuters who sign up can use local bikes to get to the PATH train or ferry, then use a Citi Bike in New York to continue their commute.
“Thanks to Mayor Fulop’s visionary leadership and the support of terrific sponsors, the Citi Bike program is now a seamless regional transportation network improving commutes on both sides of the Hudson,” said Walder. ”The launch of the Citi Bike program in Jersey City shows that bike share has become a critical component of healthy, sustainable and convenient urban living in cities of all sizes.”
Walder said the new system provides a new, environmentally friendly, healthy and affordable
24 hour seven day a week transportation option for the city’s residents and visitors, and making the city more welcoming to cyclists overall. Jersey City has added 22 miles of bike lanes to the street grid over the past two years.
“Citi Bike has become an iconic mobile landmark in New York City, and we are thrilled to help roll Citi Bike out to Jersey City residents and visitors,” said Elyssa Gray, director of Brand and Advertising of Citi Cards.
Healthy transportation, too
“As a founding sponsor, the Horizon Foundation encourages city residents to embrace the Jersey City Bike Share program and pedal their way to better health,” said Minalkumar Patel, M.D., senior vice president & chief strategy officer for Horizon BCBSNJ. “Cycling combines a fitness activity into a rider’s daily routine, offering the same cardiovascular benefits as other aerobic exercises, and supports a healthy lifestyle.”
CarePoint Health System CEO Dennis Kelly added, “Improving the health and quality of life of the population we serve is CarePoint Health’s core mission, and this program takes a huge step in that direction.”
“Having a Citi Bike station on the Jersey City Medical Center campus and one near my home in Jersey City will give me a healthy alternative means of transportation,” said Joe Scott, president & CEO of Jersey City Medical Center-Barnabas Health. “At Barnabas Health we believe life is better healthy, and I will encourage others to do the same when making appointments or as a method of commuting. Our Citi Bike rental station is near Liberty State Park and the Light Rail and we expect it to be one of the busiest locations.”
Margaret Anadu, managing director in the Goldman Sachs Urban Investment Group, said there is a good environmental reason as well as an economic one for the bike program.
“This expansion will not only increase access to affordable green transportation but will also create quality jobs and sustainable economic development,” she said.
Jersey City residents can sign up for memberships at www.citibikejc.com. Pricing across New York and New Jersey are the same, with an annual membership cost of $149, discounted by $25 until the end of this month. Members are entitled to unlimited use of the system for individual bike trips of up to 45 minutes. Members using the Citi Bike bikes for longer periods will be charged a graduated fee. There are also options for day and weekly memberships, for those visiting Jersey City or trying the system for the first time.
Corporate memberships are also available. Any Jersey City employer that signs up by October 1 will be designated a charter member, with the opportunity to extend a 50 or 100 percent subsidy to every employee. Interested employers and employees can contact marketing@citibikejc.com for more information.
Al Sullivan may be reached at asullivan@hudsonreporter.com.