CitiBike Bike Share Program Comes to Red Hook by Maryam Daghmoumi
Aug 03, 2016 bike share,brooklyn,citibike,columbia waterfront,gowanus,Maryam Daghmoumi,parking concerns,red hook,transportaion
When the CitiBike program launched a few years ago, a lot of local residents (including myself) were left scratching our heads. Why hadn’t they placed any stations in transportation lacking neighborhoods like Red Hook, Columbia Waterfront or Gowanus.
The point of a bike-share program is to alleviate congested traffic conditions and provide those who are living and working outside of the margins of a transport system with adequate options, while promoting a healthier way of life and responsible environmental practices. The immediate goal, however, is streamlining transportation…so, you can imagine my confusion as to why they hadn’t even placed one CitiBike dock near our subway-deprived Red Hook.
Last week, however, our wish came true; the CitiBike officials announced that they will install 73 new bike docks in the areas of Brooklyn and Upper Manhattan. In Red Hook alone, there will be 14 docks, an exciting new venture, but not all together without its own controversy. Although it will allow many residents quicker access to the subways and other regions of Brooklyn and Manhattan, many people are wondering what will happen to the increasingly difficult parking situation. In my book, if we could replace more cars with bikes, it may not be such a bad thing after all, but I do understand car-owners concerns, especially with the increase in developments in our neck of the woods.