Town Hall Meeting On 10 Locations
New York City’s new bike share program may be coming to Long Island City, Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer announced.
After working with the Department of Transportation, Van Bramer is proposing 10 locations in Long Island City, giving the borough of Queens the opportunity to be a part of the nation’s largest public bike share system.
The 10 locations would add to New York City’s 600 bike docking stations.
On May 21, Council Member Van Bramer, Community Board 2 and DOT will host a community forum on the proposed docking stations at 10-40 Jackson Ave. in Long Island City from 7 to 9 p.m.
“The expansion of New York City’s Bike Share program into Western Queens will give both tourists and our local residents the ability to get around parts of our great neighborhood in an environmentally friendly and convenient way,” said Van Bramer in a statement. “The 10 proposed locations will not only facilitate commuters into and out of Long Island City but it will also attract new visitors to all the fantastic cultural and culinary options the neighborhood has to offer.”
“I’m extremely proud to release this plan for the Citi Bike network,” said DOT Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan. “New Yorkers created this plan during the past six months, contributing time and expertise in workshops, on-line and in dozens of meetings to discuss and plan the city’s newest transportation system.”
The solar-powered, wireless docking stations will be located on sidewalks, curbside road space, plazas and other locations suggested through the community process. Each station can accommodate be- tween 15 and 60 bikes. The self-contained stations require no utility connections and can be installed in minutes.
Each bike will be equipped with a bell and both front and rear lights, and each bike will be inscribed with a safety message encouraging helmet use; cautioning riders to yield to pedestrians, avoid riding on sidewalks, ride with traffic and to obey all traffic lights and signs.
At the May 21 meeting, the community will be able to voice their opinion on the 10 proposed locations:
– 2nd Street near 54th Avenue (the Hunters Point terminal for the East River Ferry service);
– 48th Avenue near Vernon Boulevard;
– Vernon Boulevard near 50th Avenue;
– 45th Road near 11th Street (Murray Playground);
– 46th Avenue near Jackson Avenue;
– 44th Drive near Jackson Avenue;
– 21st Street near 43rd Avenue;
– 21st Street near Queens Plaza North;
– Queens Plaza North near Crescent Street; and
– 31st Street near Thomson Avenue.
