Those white e-bikes that popped up around the Village of Ossining have been busy since they debuted in August, with more than 1,000 rides taken covering 1,400-plus miles as of late October.
The first 50 electric bikes arrived in Ossining via a pilot program dubbed Project MOVER, with a goal of extending the initiative into the Town of Ossining and the villages of Dobbs Ferry. Croton-on-Hudson, Sleepy Hollow and Tarrytown.
The 60-pound pedal-assist bikes made by Drop Mobility feature step-through frames powered by 350-watt hub motors. Their speeds are set at a maximum of 16 mph, although riders can go faster downhill.
The range of a fully charged e-bike is 20-25 miles, depending on the weight of the rider and the terrain. Once the electric battery loses its boost, it can still be pedaled, but don’t expect it to be easy. Users cannot charge the batteries; that’s only handled by Drop Mobility professionals.
Riders using the Project MOVER smartphone app can go anywhere but must end their trip at one of the 11 parking hubs within the Village of Ossining. As the program expands to other municipalities, bikes will be returnable at any approved station.
“We are the first pilot and when we’re done and we learn and make all the mistakes here, we’ll get all the accolades from people who love it,” Mayor Rika Levin said during an Oct. 9 ribbon-cutting ceremony. “So far everybody loves it. We haven’t gotten complaints yet.” The satisfaction rate for riders is 95-plus percent, she said.
Ossining’s hilly terrain makes the 3.2-square-mile village an ideal place to launch an e-bikeshare program.
“Unlike cities that are flat, we are not flat, and if we can get this in this topography it will be a big win for the state of New York,” she said.
As of late October, riders had racked up a total of 21,610 minutes traveled, with the average trip covering just over one mile. The top three destinations were Nelson Park, the Metro-North station area and the Arcadian Shopping Center.
Safety concerns have been addressed through several features, according to consultant Sarah Saltz. Before riders can unlock a bike, they must go through a series of slides on the app itself and agree to disclosures regarding the rules of the road and abiding by all traffic safety laws.
Connecting River Towns
Project MOVER grew out of Ossining’s $7 million state grant from the New York State Energy Research & Development Authority under the New York Clean Transportation Prizes program. The funding is intended to extend the bike-sharing program into other River Towns.
Dobbs Ferry has opted into the program and is determining the best sites for bike parking hubs, according to Mayor Vincent Rossillo. Some are expected to be near the Metro-North station and others spread throughout the village.
The Croton village Board of Trustees approved a letter of intent and is working with program partner Shared Mobility to obtain e-bikes and determine where the racks would be located, according to Deputy Mayor Len Simon.
Ossining Supervisor Liz Feldman said the town had decided to go forward with the program, with locations to be determined. Sleepy Hollow trustees on Oct. 22 approved a letter of intent to join the program.
Tarrytown’s Board of Trustees approved a letter of commitment to continue participation in the program. A survey circulated in the village to gauge residents’ interest drew a majority of positive responses, although safety and traffic concerns were expressed.
Project MOVER is unique in that it will offer an electric bikeshare, an e-bike library for longer term rentals, and a program piloting a pathway to make the purchase of e-bikes more affordable for income-qualified residents, according to a NYSERDA spokesperson.
Ready to ride?
- Download the Project MOVER app on your smartphone from the App Store or Google Play Store. Participants must be at least 18.
- Create an account to add credit card information
- Scan the QR code on the bike
- There’s a $1 fee to unlock the bike and then 12 cents a minute
- Bikes must be returned to designated storage hubs, or racks
- Visit projectmoverbikeshare.com for details
Captions:
Bike 1: State Assemblywoman Dana Levenberg (on bike), Ossining Assistant Village Manager Maddi Zachacz and Mayor Rika Levin during an Oct. 8, 2024, ribbon-cutting for the village’s e-bike program. Photo by Robert Brum
Bike 2: Ossining’s Project MOVER e-bikes stationed at the corner of Main and Spring Streets. Photo by Robert Brum
