The MTA is adding bicycle racks to buses on two Staten Island routes as part of a year-long pilot program, marking the first time such equipment has been made available for public use on NYC Transit, the agency said Monday.
The Bike & Ride pilot will roll out Sunday on the S53 and S93 routes, which run between Staten Island and the Bay Ridge section of Brooklyn over the Verrazano Bridge. The two lines were chosen for their access to current and planned bicycle paths, ridership and routes, which serve a major college campus where bicycling is a popular commuting option, the MTA said.
The bike racks have been installed on a dedicated fleet of buses that serve the two routes. During the pilot, NYC Transit will test the use of three types of front-mounted racks, each of which can fit up to two non-collapsible conventional bicycles. The racks have a mechanism that secures the bicycle in place during transit.
Over the course of the pilot, NYC Transit will study the feasibility of continuing and/or expanding the program to other boroughs by looking at any impacts on service, safety, fleet maintenance, training, operations, costs and legal issues.
A test run in March was conducted with no major issues, though managers noted possible locations with tight turns along the routes and the inability to machine-wash the fronts of buses as potential safety and maintenance issues, which are being addressed.
The racks are free to use and available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Customers who wish to transport their bicycles must wait for a bus with an available rack. There is no age restriction on usage but the customer must be able to load and unload the bicycle safely and securely, and parents or guardians are asked to use caution when allowing minors to use the racks. Instructions will be affixed to the racks to provide guidance.
NYC Transit has purchased a total of 38 racks at a cost of $42,000. The S53, the second busiest bus route on Staten Island, serves an average of 10,100 customers on an average weekday. The S93 route has an average weekday ridership of 3,250 customers.
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NYC DOT Commissioner and MTA board member Polly Trottenberg called the pilot program an "exciting first step" in bringing New York in line with other cities as far as transportation alternatives.
