Here are the station locations for the bike share starting later this summer
A clip from the map of Albany stations.
The new bike share that CDTA is launching later this summer -- CDPHP Cycle -- is now one step closer to starting up: The transit org has announced the locations of the stations for the bike share.
So let's have a look...
Look up
Maps are at the top in large format -- click or scroll all the way up.
A few bits
There are 38 bike stations in all, spread across the four core cities of the region:
+ Albany: 20
+ Schenectady: 7
+ Troy: 7
+ Saratoga Springs: 4
CDTA asked for suggested locations via a public survey earlier this year, and the org says it used those suggestions along with factors such such population density and the existence of existing bike infrastructure to make the selections.
There will be 160 bikes distributed across the stations. The program is using bikes and tech from a company called Social Bicycles, which runs bike shares in many cities around the country. The second phase of the program next year will include additional stations.
What the bike share bikes will look like. / image via CDTA
One of the goals of the bike share is to provide a different transportation option around the nodes of CDTA's existing bus network and also within downtown areas, as CDTA mobility manager Lauren Bailey explained earlier this year. So, for example, maybe a person takes a bus into downtown Albany and then later hops on a bike share bike to ride up to the Warehouse District.
This idea of providing options within the region's urban center seems to be something CDTA has been giving thought to lately. Last week at the announcement of the new Capital City Shuttle service for Albany, CDTA executive director Carm Basile said the shuttle had grown out of thinking about how to provide "connector-type" service within the city.
At that same event, Basile said the bike share was still planned to start later this summer. And the docking stations -- the locations of which were announced today -- will start showing up in a few weeks.
Background
Here's more background and details on the bike share project from this past spring.
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CDTA and CDPHP advertise on AOA.
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Comments
I'm super excited about this! Are they allowing inter-city rides? The dotted lines around the maps make me worried that you're not supposed to take the bikes outside that area. I'd love to be able ride to work in Albany from my apartment in Troy on nice days.
... said acw on Jun 15, 2017 at 11:10 AM | link
Psyched!
... said ethan on Jun 15, 2017 at 12:52 PM | link
Pretty excited for this. That said, the Troy map is infuriating. The stations appear all to be located within an approximately 1/8 square mile area. You can literally walk to every single station in about a half hour (https://goo.gl/maps/tGcuatZ7xiA2). And yet, somehow they fail to locate a station at THE transit hub of the city, which is located within said area and is slated for major reconfiguration and upgrades...? So much for hitting "the nodes of CDTA's existing bus network." I realize the hill can constrain east-west travel, but this is pathetic. At least stick something across the bridge at price chopper or up at knickerbacker park.
... said Ed on Jun 15, 2017 at 1:24 PM | link
No love for the upper areas of Albany like out New Scotland or Western Aves?
... said KW on Jun 15, 2017 at 2:58 PM | link
@KW, This is only phase I, there will be more stations next year
... said lea on Jun 15, 2017 at 5:17 PM | link
ACW: I'll bet you can pedal a bike wherever you want, as long as you are willing to pay the cost for the time it takes and end up at a station. That said, bikeshare bikes are best suited for shorter trips. They are pretty heavy. Not many would opt to pedal them long distances very often. But don't let conventional wisdom box you in. Be the one that pedals a bikeshare between cities. Like that one guy who kayaks between Albany and Troy (is that still happening?), you will be my hero.
... said Randal Putnam on Jun 16, 2017 at 6:07 AM | link
Wow thanks CDPHP for making us all ugly, rolling advertisements for you.
... said Nick on Jun 16, 2017 at 10:39 AM | link
Great to see this happening. Phase 1 roll out is a good start... Now the commuting community needs to get behind this and actually use these bikes to run errands, commute, etc.!
... said Sam Ciraulo on Jun 16, 2017 at 1:56 PM | link
Wow thanks CDPHP for sponsoring bike share so operational costs can be low, encouraging people to ride and use take healthy transportation options.
... said daleyplanit on Jun 19, 2017 at 10:31 AM | link
@daleyplanit -- I concur. While I do not have my coverage through CDPHP, I give them a lot of credit for being proactive in fostering good health and fitness. When I go to the JCC there's a ton of senior citizens who are CDPHP members taking exercises classes and swimming in the pool for free. I recently met a person whose CDPHP "Life Points" paid for her Fitbit. I wish my own health insurance company showed as much interest in my fitness.
... said chrisck on Jun 19, 2017 at 2:45 PM | link
An additional bike share station at the Amtrak station in Rensselaer is essential! This would allow people to get to and from Amtrak and Mega Bus to downtown and back. Many people who take trains and busses to get to and from Albany are exactly the type of people who would be likely to use bike share. I know first hand. I'm currently a member of bike share systems in 6 cities and I travel to Albany a few times a year. I'm also a founding member of Citibike the NYC bike share system. I would use bike share to get to and from Amtrak and the bus station every time I visit. I know it's another city but there has got to be a way to make it happen.
Steven, Brooklyn
... said Steven on Feb 6, 2018 at 10:07 PM | link