ValleyBike Share Touts Inaugural Season Success
SPRINGFIELD — ValleyBike Share recently extended thanks to all users, sponsors, and supporters during its inaugural season. While the system experienced some expected (and unexpected) issues during this year’s startup, users successfully traveled over 88,000 miles together and made the bike-share system a success. People have been using the system instead of their cars for commuting to work and school, running errands, and even just for exercise and fresh air.
“We are excited by the enthusiastic response in this first season of bike share, which has exceeded our original ridership projections,” said Northampton Mayor David Narkewicz. “We look forward to Easthampton joining the program next spring and also filling in the gaps in the system to continue expanding this important transportation alternative in the region.”
Added Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse, “the arrival of electric bikes has complemented and energized our community-development efforts in Holyoke and our region. As we close on our maiden season, I look forward to expanding the service and implementing lessons learned to make our network even better next year.”
Tim Brennan, executive director of the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission, noted that, since ValleyBike has been in existence, residents and visitors of the five founding communities and UMass Amherst have traveled the equivalent of three and half times around the Earth — “something truly worth celebrating as its inaugural season comes to a close.”
ValleyBike Share also reminds the public that, as originally programmed, the system shut down completely on Nov. 30 and will be re-opened on April 1 (weather permitting).
During the time ValleyBike Share bikes are over-wintering, ValleyBike will be working to fix the issues noted in the startup season to provide the public with new and improved riding opportunities next season.
