Officials are asking cyclists if two competing bike share companies, in Hoboken and adjacent Jersey City, should be allowed to expand into the other's turf to make biking more convenient for commuters.

Hudson Bike Share serves Hoboken and CitiBike serves Jersey City. Bicycles from both bike shares have to be returned to that company's docking station when people are finished riding.

The problem? There are no CitiBike docking stations in Hoboken and Hudson Bike Share doesn't have docks in Jersey City, which makes it difficult for commuters to ride one of those bikes to the neighboring city.

Now, Hoboken officials are asking bike commuters to take a survey on the city website and list three locations they'd like to see docking stations in each city for the other city's bike share.

The issue is coming up again after it was raised in 2016 following some complaints that bicycles from Hudson Bike Share were being locked up at Jersey City bike racks at PATH stations. A proposed ordinance that would have prohibited "commercial" bike parking halted talks to put a desired CitiBike docking station near the Hoboken PATH station.

Cross-border placement of bike share docks is being considered for @CitiBikeJC and @hudsonbikeshare. Please take the official survey now! Our position is Um yes. #HudCoDockExchange #BikeShareShare #SharingIsCaring https://t.co/FUNz7TQOzZ — 🚲BikeJC🗽 (@bikejc) February 6, 2018

Cycling advocates said allowing a few docking stations from the neighboring city's bike share program would make riding between the two cities easier. Drivers could see a benefit from less traffic on the streets and fewer cars competing for parking.

"We support anything that makes bike share more useful to people in and around Jersey City and we believe this would help both systems do that," said Tony Borelli, BikeJC vice-president. "Biking is ideal for trips beyond typical walking distance and many times those trips cross borders into neighboring towns."

Integrating the two systems can help reduce traffic congestion and can benefit local businesses, said Ron Bautista, a former Mayoral candidate and chairman of the transportation and parking committee for Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla's transition team.

"Commuters and advocates have wished for better integration between the two cities. If you're in the Jersey City Heights, Hoboken Terminal is sometimes the fastest way to get to a transit hub," he said. "We live in a heavily populated area and making it easier to bike between both cities means less cars on the road."

The idea surfaces as PATH officials reported a record 82 million people used the trans-Hudson rail system last year, the highest in the agency's 56-year history. Transit advocates fear new residential development in both cities could overwhelm the rail system.

Larry Higgs may be reached at lhiggs@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @commutinglarry. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

