Bike Sharing Program OKd for Huntington Village

By Peter Sloggatt

psloggatt@longislandergroup.com

A countywide bicycle sharing program is getting set to launch low-cost bike sharing in the Town of Huntington. Acting under a contract with Suffolk County, Boston-based Zagster will launch a pilot program here under an agreement ratified by the town board this week.

Zagster hopes to get started with bicycle sharing stations at locations in and around Huntington village. The company will provide 25 advertiser-sponsored bicycles for use from five locations, Zagster spokesman Phil LeClare told Long Islander News this week.

The bicycle sharing program is part of a countywide effort launched this summer by Suffolk County. In June, County Executive Steve Bellone launched the program in Patchogue and Babylon villages, and announced Bethpage Federal Credit union would sponsor the first 100 cycles to hit the streets in the county.

Huntington’s agreement with Zagster was approved at the town board’s Oct. 16 meeting and will allow Zagster to install bicycle racks and signage at Heckscher Park, Mill Dam Park, Cinema Arts Centre, Huntington Town Hall and at locations on New and Gerard Streets in Huntington village.

The county in May awarded Zagster, “the industry’s leading operations platform for the micro-mobility sharing economy, a contract to implement its Pace bicycle-share service for communities across Suffolk,” according to a statement from County Executive Steve Bellone. “Under the program, Zagster is responsible for designing, building, financing and operating this first-of-its-kind regional bike-share program in Suffolk County – at no cost to County taxpayers, towns, or villages.”

Zagster’s program can be accessed by smartphone devices through which users will either be able to pay per ride or buy a membership. At the launch of Bethpage Ride in August, county officials said that as a result of the credit union’s sponsorship, riders will be able to pay $1 per 15 minutes, but can also opt for a monthly plan for $10 or a yearly plan for $60 per year. Both plans allow for unlimited trips of up to 30 minutes.  

Huntington’s roll-out also required some “housekeeping” by the town board. Council members had to change town code regulating outdoor advertising in order to permit the sponsored bicycles to roam town.

Councilman Mark Cuthbertson reluctantly voted for it. “I don’t like the idea of advertising on town properties,” he said.

Zagster currently operates more than 250 vehicle share programs in 35 states.