Bike rentals a welcome addition in Long Beach
Bicyclists pass the the Decobike bicycle kiosk on the western end of the Long Beach Boardwalk. By using a credit card, people can rent bikes from the self-serve kiosk at a rate of $4 for 30 minutes or $6 and hour and up. (June 7, 2012) Credit: Kevin P Coughlin
In just a few weeks, folks in the City of Long Beach longing for a bicycle ride will be able to rent two-wheelers at kiosks scattered throughout the city, for just $4 per hour. It’s a great new idea for a place that offers such a wonderful boardwalk bike route, and it could bring a bit of cash to a municipality whose coffers are empty.
The 16 kiosks will be located in various parts of Long Beach, from the boardwalk itself to the LIRR station to a mix of commercial and residential areas. The city will get 10 percent of each rental fee and 10 percent of the money garnered from ads placed on the bikes.
Some residents are complaining about the locations of certain kiosks, the dangers of increased bike traffic and the need for more bike lanes and bike safety education before the rentals begin. Certainly, the city will need to keep an eye on how the program works, moving kiosks if necessary and responding to problems that arise. But for visitors and residents alike, adding bicycle availability in a community like Long Beach has a lot of advantages, and ought to be encouraged as much as possible.
