At a parking lot in Manhattan, New York City, 32-year-old engineer Adriana Attari pedaled a bicycle, mustered her courage, lifted her feet off the ground, and wobbled forward.
Learning to ride a bike wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment decision for her — she was preparing for an upcoming bike-sharing initiative in New York.
Currently, public bicycle rental services have been successfully implemented in Hangzhou, China, and Paris, France. Hangzhou has over 60,000 public bikes, while Paris has 20,000.
Large number of participants
Citizens attend free bike riding classes
“Riding a bike is a bit scary, but it’s fun,” Attari told AFP. “I fell off my bike several times as a child and swore I’d never ride again. But now, I’m back at it.”
Around 20 people, most of them women, joined Attari in the free bike class. They all hoped to master cycling skills before the bike-sharing program launched, so they could better utilize this new public transportation resource.
Attari said there were quite a few people interested in learning to ride, and many had reserved spots in the classes back in March and April.
New York has long been known for its heavy traffic and vehicle congestion. To address the issue, the city will launch a bike-sharing program on the 27th of this month, setting up 330 stations in Manhattan and Brooklyn, with 6,000 bikes available for rent to residents and tourists. Users can pick up and return bikes at any station, with a maximum single-use duration of 45 minutes.
Not Free
8,000 membership cards issued
Renting a bike isn’t free — users need to sign up for a prepaid card.
So far, around 8,000 people have signed up for annual memberships, paying a $95 yearly fee for unlimited bike usage. Non-members can buy a $10 daily pass or a $25 weekly pass.
Currently, public bicycle rental services have been successfully implemented in Hangzhou, China, and Paris, France. Hangzhou has over 60,000 public bikes, while Paris has 20,000. Analysts say these programs, already well-established in Hangzhou and Paris, will serve as models for New York.
The New York City government plans to expand the bike-sharing program after an initial period, increasing the number of bike stations to 600 and the total number of bikes to 10,000.
Mixed Reactions
Bike safety is a major concern
David Dattley, a 38-year-old artist and supporter of the bike-sharing program, said: “I hope to ride my bike to meetings or the office during the day regularly. It’s better than taking the subway, hailing a cab, or walking. I can also ride to a bar at night for a drink without worrying about how to get home — I can just return the bike.”
Although New Yorkers, encouraged by Mayor Michael Bloomberg, are gradually embracing biking, some critics argue that the high volume of vehicles on the streets makes cycling dangerous and unhealthy.
Elizabeth Haddad, a 26-year-old writer, said, “Biking in New York is scary and very dangerous.” She recommended wearing a helmet: “I wore one in France, and it worked great.”
But Dattley dismissed such concerns. He said: “Once these (shared) bikes are on the road, drivers will naturally drive more cautiously. I think everyone will be safer.”