In Spring 2017 the City of Rochester will attempt to launch a Bike Sharing system. The system will be operated by Zagster which aims to place 30-35 bike share stations and a total of 250 bikes throughout downtown and in surrounding neighborhoods.

The City of Rochester IS NOT funding this bike share system so it is up to the community to make sure it gets up and running. Each bike station requires a community or corporate sponsorship of $9,000 in order to be set up and run for 1 year.

Reconnect Rochester, a local 501(c)(3) organization, would like to help fund a number of bike share stations in neighborhoods which might not otherwise be funded by a corporate sponsor.

THE GOAL:

Our goal is to fund five (5) stations in the neighborhoods along the northern edge of downtown – including Upper Falls / Amtrak Station and South Marketview Heights / Public Market areas (shown on the map in bright green).

If five stations are successfully funded in Upper Falls and South Marketview Heights, we will put any extra money towards “hard-to-fund” bike stations in other areas of the city (shown in light green).

PERKS:

ALL donors will have their names permanently listed on Reconnect Rochester’s website. We want to recognize YOU for making Rochester Bike Share a reality. Donate $20+ and you'll receive a Bike Rochester N.Y. sticker. Donate $50+ and receive a Rochester Subway Poster. Donate $75+ and receive a Rochester Neighborhoods Poster. IF we raise enough for 1 bike share station (that's $9,000), then the top ten (10) donors will receive a Rochester Bike Share 1-year membership.*

*Top donors will be sorted by highest donation amount and earliest date & time of donation.

WHY WE'RE DOING THIS:

Because of the economic makeup of our city, certain neighborhoods will have an easier time funding bike share stations than others. Center City and Park Ave for example simply have more businesses that are able to cover the $9,000 per station price of entry.

As an on-demand, sustainable, and healthy mode of transportation, we believe bike sharing helps build strong communities, and we want to make sure it's accessible to as many people as possible. We also want to make sure that important local destinations such as the Public Market and Rochester Intermodal Station have bike share stations nearby.

This crowdfunding campaign allows ordinary citizens to help by making small donations. Reconnect Rochester is a 501(c)(3) non-profit and your donation is tax deductible.

ABOUT BIKE SHARE:

With low-cost options including an hourly pass or an annual membership, residents and visitors can easily pick up a bike at one station and drop it off at another station anywhere within the city’s network. Used together with public transportation (RTS), bike sharing can be a valuable tool to help Rochesterians of all ages get around without a car, save money and keep active. And more people walking and biking in our city will mean more activity at local businesses and ultimately a stronger economy.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

Q: What happens if the goal isn't met?

A: We do not need to reach the $45,000 goal to be successful. But we WILL need to raise at least $9,000 to fund one station. If we fall short of $9,000 we will either issue refunds to the donors or put the money toward another bike program (possibly offsetting the cost of another bike station somewhere else in the city) — but we will let the donors decide whether or not they would like their donation refunded at that time. If we raise more than $9,000 but not enough for two stations, we will hold the extra money aside to help fund one bike station for a 2nd year.

Q: The station locations on your map don't match the other maps I've seen either on Zagster's site or the City's. Why not?

A: There is not an official bike station map yet. The one's you've seen to date are for general illustration purposes only. Stations will be located based on where the sponsors request them, pending City approval. We based our locations on data and public input from the Rochester Bike Share Feasibiliity Study. Once funding has been secured, we will be working with the City and Zagster to finalize the exact station placement.