The Hudson County Division of Planning, through a Together North Jersey Local Government Capacity Grant Program, is exploring the feasibility of implementing a bike share system throughout Hudson County with the Hudson County Bikeshare Feasibility Study. While they are still in the exploratory phase of the program, they would like to receive your feedback.

On Tuesday, February 4, there will be a Public Open House in Jersey City so that you can share your ideas, suggestions and concerns.

For those who don't know, a bike share is an innovative transportation program where system subscribers have access to bicycles through self-service kiosk locations around the community. The system is accessed through low-cost subscriptions ranging from a few dollars for one-day to annual memberships that generally cost less than a bicycle tune-up.

Bike share is ideal for short distance, point-to-point trips providing subscribers access to bicycles at any self-serve bike station to use and return to any bike station within the system's service area. Most systems allow subscribers to make as many trips as often as they like without additional charge provided they return the bicycles to a system station within a half hour.

Operators generally begin to charge gradually increasing fees after the first half hour to discourage users from holding onto the bicycles when they are not being used, ensuring that bicycles are readily available for other system subscribers. In cities across the U.S., bike share systems have proven very popular and successful by giving residents and visitors alike a fast, affordable, easy to use transportation option that can make getting around town fun!

This project is funded by Together North Jersey, an initiative funded in part through a Sustainable Communities Regional Planning Grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and through a grant from the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority, which is allocating U.S. Department of Transportation funding.

Before the meeting, please take some time to explore the Hudson County Bikeshare Feasibility Study website. There is plenty of information regarding what they hope to accomplish, an area to allow you to experience virtual bikesharing, suggest kiosk locations and to sign up to receive updates on the progress of the study.

The details for the Public Open House:

If you have questions about the project or the possibility of bike share coming to Hudson County, please contact the project team at hudcobikeshare@tooledesign.com.

Together North Jersey is a collaborative partnership dedicated to strengthening the region's economy and improving access to good jobs, quality schools, safe and stable neighborhoods, a healthy environment, fresh food, and civic and cultural resources. The Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey is the administrative and fiscal agent for Together North Jersey. For more information on Together North Jersey, please visit www.togethernorthjersey.com or contact Miriam Salerno.