Another form of public transportation has arrived in Buffalo. While two years in the making Buffalo Blue Bicycle has implemented a program and designed a network making bicycle sharing a reality in Downtown Buffalo. Blue Bikes is an innovative community bicycle-lending program committed to making this healthy, environmentally sustainable and community friendly form of transportation accessible to all residents within the City of Buffalo – members have access to a fleet of metallic blue bicycles located at a number of conveniently located hubs across the city. (See BRO Blue Bike post from September ’05)
How it works: Buffalo Blue Bicycle members are able to check out any one of a wide array of bicycles which are all equipped with a lock. A member must first log into the website (www.BuffaloBlueBicycle.org) and make an online reservation. All bicycles and hubs are connected by an online database, which allows members to use any of our hubs for pick-up or drop-off. The confirmation of your reservation will be the combination to the bicycleis lock. When done using your Blue Bicycle simply check it in through the website. Members may keep bicycles out for up to two days and renewals are possible. We do, however, ask members not to use renewals on a regular basis. Sharing means letting others use the bicycle as well.
How to join: Before you can take part in the Buffalo Blue Bicycle program, you must register as a member. A Season’s membership is available for a donation of $25.00, less than the cost of a tank of gas or a month’s pass for transit. If you cannot afford $25.00, we ask that you contribute a minimum of six (6) hours of volunteer service helping to fix and maintain bicycles, or performing other duties to enhance the program.
Workshop: Not only is Blue Bicycle a lending program but we also operate as a community bicycle cooperative. Our workshops are set up so that anyone can come in and learn how to fix and maintain bicycles. We will start you out with a junker to strip down for parts. As you learn the bicycle and its components we will prepare you to build one from scratch. Once you build a Blue Bicycle for us you are welcome to select a bicycle to build for yourself.
Benefits: Buffalo Blue Bicycle has the mission to create healthy, sustainable and environmentally friendly transportation. By providing people access to a fleet of recycled bicycles we can achieve our mission through several means:
-The Blue Bicycles are re-used and recycled old bicycles that are restored to working condition. Through re-use and recycling we can reduce the amount of garbage going to the waste stream. Even when parts or frames are beyond repair we strip them down to the metal components and separate out the different metals to sell to the salvage yard to sustain the workshop. All rubber tires and tubes that cannot be re-used are also brought to the recycling center.
-Active living is the public health term that describes our ability to walk or bicycle to work or for errand on a regular basis. It incorporates physical activity into our daily routines. With one out of every four adults now overweight or obese, Blue Bicycle is a way for everybody to include some regular daily activity to improve their health.
-Not only are automobiles costly in terms of fuel, maintenance and insurance but they are a major culprit in air pollution and the associated respiratory diseases.
-Utilizing Blue Bicycles is also a simple way that you can contribute to reducing our demand on foreign oil. The money saved on your fuel costs can be better suited to putting some good old Buffalo food/fuel in your belly while supporting local businesses.
For more information visit our website www.BuffaloBlueBicycle.org and become a member today!