Mayor John Vieau officially cuts the ribbon to welcome ValleyBike back to Chicopee.
Reminder Publishing photo by Tyler Garnet
CHICOPEE — After the regional ValleyBike Share Program was officially welcomed back into the region on Aug. 12 during a ribbon cutting ceremony at Pulaski Park in Northampton, Chicopee officially welcomed back the ValleyBike Share program to the city with a ribbon cutting ceremony and e-bike demonstration on Sept. 16.
This event, in collaboration with Drop Mobility, offered residents and other members of the state to experience Drop Mobility’s innovative e-bikes in action, with opportunities to test-ride and learn more about the features and benefits of this environmentally friendly transportation solution.
Representatives from Drop Mobility were also available to answer questions and provide detailed information on how e-bikes can enhance daily transportation in Chicopee.
Drop Mobility was chosen as the new vendor ValleyBike Share program after Bewegen Inc., the prior vendor, could no longer meet its contract obligations as the program’s main service provider.
Drop Mobility Regional Operation Manger Jeff Goodmark talked about the perks of using micro mobility as a means of transportation.
He said, “There’s a certain freedom that you know about if you own a car that at any time of the day or night, whenever you want you can just get in that car and go wherever you want and you don’t have to tell anyone where you’re going, you don’t need to make a plan ahead of time, you don’t need to make a reservation. We at Drop Mobility believe that micro mobility can offer that same kind of freedom that you get in that way whereas you can come out at any time, walk up to a bike that’s available, get on the bike and go anywhere you want.”
The ValleyBike Share system features 300 existing bikes and 50 Drop e-bikes, stationed throughout the Pioneer Valley, serving nine other communities in addition to Chicopee. The system is dock-to-dock, meaning each bike trip must start/end at a ValleyBike docking station.
The bikes are also get redistributed every day. For example, if most of the bikes end up at the end of the night in Holyoke or Springfield, they are picked up and redistributed so they are available again the next morning for others to use.
Besides test riding and giving rave reviews about the e-bikes, Mayor John Vieau, state Sen. Jake Oliveira (D-Ludlow) and state Rep. Shirley Arriaga (D-Chicopee) all discussed how important the idea of this program is to each community and to practice bike safety.
Vieau said, “I want to thank Drop Mobility for reinvesting in ValleyBike because let’s be blunt, Chicopee is a blue collar city and as car insurance keeps going up and the cost to maintain a car is very expensive, people need alternative means of getting around and I think ValleyBike is something that is going to take off here. We are committed to bringing new and innovative solutions to our community, and these e-bikes will help foster a cleaner, healthier Chicopee. I’m proud to support this effort to promote sustainability and provide our residents with more transportation options.”
Vieau added he encourages people to enjoy and check out the 2.3-mile bike path located along the Connecticut River.
“We want people in Chicopee, Western Massachusetts and Pioneer Valley to know these bikes are available and come take the opportunity to help you get from point A to B,” Vieau said.
The e-bike pedal assist feature makes it easier for people of all ages to ride bikes. Oliveira talked about this feature.
He said, “My family actually purchased electric bikes a couple of years ago and I know that so many seniors including my parents who are in their 70s now, rely on the pedal assist to get up hills and it allows you to stay active well into your 80s and 90s afterwards because of the fact that you don’t need to pedal up a hill as often.”
Arriaga also talked about how beneficial the pedal assist feature is for so many people.
“I’m very happy that it has that pedal assist and I’m very fortunate to be here because believe it or not, not everyone can get on a bike. I think we take those simple things for granted. It could be a pulmonary issue or heart issue or whatever it may be but sometimes we just forgot how blessed and fortunate we are. Having these bikes here are not only an opportunity to stay healthy but give folks an opportunity to travel, to maybe get groceries or maybe go to work. It’s essential,” she said.
Bike safety is also a point that Oliveria and Vieau expressed.
Vieau said, “I think you have to understand how important bike safety is. I have a fear of distracted drivers on the road, with or without being on my bike and I want people to understand that you have to really pay attention, be defensive and be aware of your surroundings when you’re riding.”
Oliveira echoed the importance of bike safety and said, “It’s important for bike safety to have your helmet on. I want to thank the mayor of Chicopee for always understanding we need different modes of transportation, also green modes of transportation and having an electric bike like this helps out.”
Readers who are interested in taking part in the ValleyBike Share program featuring the different prices and plans can visit www.valleybike.org.
All people have to do is choose their plan and sign up for ValleyBike, scan the QR code on the handlebar, remove the lock tether and secure it to the hook under the seat, put on their helmet and enjoy the ride.
