Bike Sharing Comes to Riverhead
Riverhead Town launched its Pedalshare bike sharing program, originally scheduled in 2019 but delayed due to several issues related to the pandemic, on May 17.
Bicycles are available to share through an app at the Riverhead Train Station, Town Hall, the EPCAL recreational path and two locations alongside the Peconic River.
The program, in conjunction with Suffolk County and sponsored by Bethpage Federal Credit Union, is also available in Hampton Bays, Southampton Village, Patchogue, Huntington and Babylon.
New Riverhead Town Councilman Kenneth Rothwell is spearheading the project in Riverhead.
“The PedalShare Program was my first community endeavor upon my appointment to the Riverhead Town Board in January, 2021, and I am proud to be a part of a project which encourages families to spend time together, exercise and enjoy the scenic sights throughout Riverhead Township,” said Mr. Rothwell in an announcement of the launch of the program.
More information is online at ridepedalshare.com.
When Suffolk County rolled out its bikesharing pilot program in Hampton Bays, Patchogue and Babylon in the fall of 2019, it contracted with a national company, Zagster, to provide the bikes and infrastructure, with the logic that such a company would have staying power.
But Zagster folded during the pandemic and a local, Southampton-based company, PedalShare, has now taken over its county contract.
The new county contract runs through 2022 with an option to renew for a year.
Rides cost $4 per hour or $35 per day, and a full year membership, allowing unlimited access to rides of up to an hour, is $59. Yearly members who want to ride for longer than an hour at a time would be billed at the regular hourly rate ($4) after the first hour. The program will run seasonally from May 1 to Nov. 1.
The Hampton Bays locations include at the Hampton Bays Post Office, which is across the street from the Hampton Bays railroad station, at Ponquogue Beach, Tiana Beach and Good Ground Park, as well as at Ponquogue Avenue. A site at Road H on the west side of the Shinnecock Inlet was removed in the fall of 2019 after severe flooding at that end of Dune Road.
Southampton locations include Agawam Park, Cooper’s Beach, Gin Lane Beach, Butler’s Manor Bed & Breakfast and the railroad station in Southampton Village.
