Free Bike Mornings on Governors Island
Island open seven days a week for first time
Free Bike Mornings allows visitors to borrow a free bike on weekday mornings for one hour
[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”]
April 7, 2014. Free bikes are returning to Governors Island for more days than ever before, The Trust for Governors Island today announced. Free Bike Mornings allows visitors to borrow a bike for free for up to one hour every weekday. Visitors will again be able to enjoy miles of biking, including new paths in the 30 acres of park that open for the first time this May. In 2014, for the first time, Governors Island will be open seven days a week. The announcement about the free bike program was made at a meeting of The Trust’s Board of Directors.
“Free bike mornings enable all New Yorkers to experience the wonder of biking on Governors Island,” said Leslie Koch, president of The Trust for Governors Island. “We hope that as many New Yorkers as possible, including day camps, youth groups, community based organizations and more take come to the Island and enjoy free bikes.”
Building on the tremendously popular Free Bike Fridays program that ran on the Island from 2009-2011, Free Bike Mornings will provide free bikes every weekday morning. Monday through Friday, visitors can borrow a free bike for up to one hour from 10 AM to noon. The first Free Bike Morning on Governors Island will take place on Memorial Day, May 26, 2014.
The Trust also announced today that Blazing Saddles has been awarded the contract to provide bikes to Island visitors. Blazing Saddles is a 25-year old family owned and operated company that offers bike rentals and tours in New York City, San Francisco, and Monterrey, California. Blazing Saddles responded to a Request for Proposals (RFP) that The Trust issued earlier this year.
A large inventory of kids and adult bikes, tandems and quadracycles will be available for visitors to rent seven days a week. In addition to renting or borrowing a bike, visitors can also bring their own bike to the Island to enjoy miles of bike paths. Bike paths are open throughout the Historic District as well as in the new 30 acres of park that open to the public for the first time on May 24.
“Governors Island is a magnet for cycling, and free bikes have helped make that happen,” said Paul Steely White, Executive Director of Transportation Alternatives. “The Island is an incredible place for New Yorkers to rediscover biking, or learn to ride for the first time.”
“There is no greater place to bike in New York City than on Governors Island,” said Susan Carey Dempsey, president of the Governors Island Alliance. “We are pleased that more New Yorkers than ever before will have the opportunity to bike on the Island with Free Bike Mornings.”
“The Free Bike Mornings program will introduce even more New Yorkers to the joy of biking,” said Jeff Sears, CEO of Blazing Saddles. “Blazing Saddles looks forward to bringing bikes to Governors Island so thousands can bike there over the course of the public season.”
The entire schedule of Governors Island’s 2014 season will be released later this spring. Governors Island opens to the public on May 24 and will be open for seven days a week for the first time. The Island’s public season ends on September 28.
About The Trust for Governors Island
The Trust for Governors Island is the nonprofit corporation created by the City of New York that is responsible for the redevelopment and operation of 150 acres of Governors Island. The Trust’s mission is to transform Governors Island into a vibrant resource for New York City, making this island at the center of New York Harbor a destination with extraordinary public open space, as well as educational, not-for-profit and commercial facilities. For more information, visit www.govisland.com.[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]