What you need to know about Huntington’s new bike-share program

The Town of Huntington is jumping on the bike-sharing trend sweeping the nation.

Like many major cities and towns across the United States, this past spring Huntington launched a bike-share program with the vendor PedalShare in an effort to promote sustainable transportation.

On June 9, Huntington Town Supervisor Chad Lupinacci, Deputy Supervisor Councilman Ed Smyth, the co-founders of PedalShare and representatives of the Bethpage Federal Credit Union gathered at Mill Dam Park to unveil the “Bethpage Ride” program that now connects the Huntington waterfront to downtown Huntington and Huntington Station.

“What’s special about the Huntington BikeShare program is that it connects the Huntington waterfront to downtown Huntington and the Huntington train station, which will help boost our local economy and keep Huntington connected and green,” said Lupinacci.

Four out of the five PedalShare/Bethpage Ride bicycle and rack locations were installed around downtown Huntington and the surrounding area just before Memorial Day weekend.

Here’s where to find them:

• Halesite: Mill Dam Park at the corner of Mill Dam Road and West Shore Road and across the street from Mill Dam Marina.
• Huntington: Heckscher Park at the Prime Avenue entrance to the museum parking lot.
• Huntington Village: Gerard Street Parking Lot on the southern side of the lot on the sidewalk behind merchants facing Main Street.
• Huntington Village: New Street Parking Lot on the northern side of the lot on the sidewalk behind merchants facing Main Street.
• Huntington Station: Paul H. Johnson, Sr. Gateway Plaza on the east side of Route 110, between Henry Street and Olive Street in Huntington Station.

Here’s how it works:

1. Download the Bloom Bike and Scooter Sharing App in the App Store or Play Store, then sign-up.
2. Scan the QR code between the handlebars to unlock the bike.
3. Leave the app open during your ride and make sure your Bluetooth is enabled.
4. Park in any open space at any of the lcations listed above.
5. Lock your back tire to end the ride.

According to a report by Wired.com, the National Association of City Transportation Officials states there were 35 million bike-share trips in 2017 and there are more than 100 bike-share systems across the country.

Chris Dimon, co-founder of PedalShare, said the goal is to extend Bethpage Ride’s reach across the island and inspire others to start cycling.

“PedalShare is excited to expand the Bethpage Ride program to the Town of Huntington,” said Dimon. “With the help of Bethpage Federal Credit Union, we aim to provide a low-cost eco-friendly and fun mode of transportation to residents. Bethpage Ride is adding hundreds of new users every month to our Countywide program and hope every user stays safe while riding.”

For more information, visit https://www.huntingtonny.gov/bikeshare.

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Above photo: Patrick O’Donoghue, Co-Founder, PedalShare; Sasha Abraham, Senior Planner, TOH Planning Department; Chris Dimon, Co-Founder, PedalShare; Robert Suarez, Assistant Vice President of Community Development, Bethpage Federal Credit Union; Supervisor Chad A. Lupinacci; Deputy Supervisor Councilman Ed Smyth; TOH Chief Sustainability Officer, Terese Kinsley. Photo courtesy of the Town of Huntington Facebook page.