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Bring Bike Share to Queens, Say Local Politicians


April 24, 2013 | Andy Cush

If you’re a cyclist resident of a neighborhood that won’t be serviced by the city’s new bike share program, it’s hard not to feel a little slighted and hope the project’s territory will eventually expand. Stations will cover all of Manhattan below 59th street, a large swath of northwest Brooklyn, and Long Island City in Queens–anyone uptown, in the Bronx, Staten Island, south or east Brooklyn, or most of Queens is out of luck. But at least one group of local politicians is looking to change that.

State Senator Michael Gianaris and City Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer, both of Queens, say the service should include Astoria, Sunnyside, and Woodside as well.  “An active bike share presence would be the perfect way to build on recent developments that have helped make this area one of the most bike-friendly in the city,” said Gianaris in a statement, referring to new bike lanes in Astoria and the proposed Queens East River and North Shore Greenway.

A spokesman for the DOT was cautiously optimistic about expansion, telling DNAInfo “there will be a chance to expand in the future based on demand and resources.”