Velofix Mobile Bike Repair And Maintenance Service Coming To Roosevelt Island Motorgate Helix Saturday November 18, Bring Your Bike Early To Secure A Spot - Local Bike Rider Has An Idea And With Help From RIOC Staff Get's It Done

A mobile bike repair shop, Velofix, is coming to the Roosevelt Island Motorgate Helix next to Foodtown (686 Main Street) Saturday November 18 from 10 AM to 4 PM.

Roosevelt Island resident and bicycle activist Paul Krikler reports: 

I ride my bike often and will drag it across the river to LIC for repair because I use it so much. It's really a pain especially if you can't wheel the bike far. 

That's when I had the idea to get a mobile bike van to come to Roosevelt Island. 

The plan is to have them come regularly Spring to Fall.

 According to the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC):

Dear Roosevelt Island Community:

We're excited to announce that Velofix, a mobile bike service that offers repairs and other bike maintenance services, is coming to Roosevelt Island this Saturday, November 18th from 10AM to 4PM under the Helix:

"North America's largest fleet of mobile bike shops, Velofix is dedicated to helping you save time, ride more, and embrace an active and healthy lifestyle by providing convenient, time-saving solutions for all your bike service needs. We will be at the Helix on Saturday, November 18th 10am-4pm. Bring your bike early to secure a spot on the schedule, and mention code RI112023 for a 10% discount on your service!"

No prior sign-up is necessary. Visit Velofix to learn more about services offered and pricing (use zip code 10021 on the website).

-Team RIOC

Take A Virtual Tour Around Roosevelt Island Promenade By Bicycle After Snowstorm

Click on full screen icon at bottom right of video for better view.

BMX Bike Rider Billy Perry Takes On Roosevelt Island With Rail Stunts On Promenade, Under The Motorgate Helix And Dodges Security To Jump FDR 4 Freedoms Park Wall Onto Ramp

According to BMX rider Billy Perry:

We hit the streets of Roosevelt Island and tried to infiltrate one of the best and most secure spots to ride in NYC.

Billy and his crew dodged security at FDR Four Freedoms Park, which does not allow bicycles inside, went up the Grand Staircase then jumped his bike over the Wall and onto the ramp

Image From Billy Perry You Tube Screenshot

before quickly exiting the park and exploring the rest of Roosevelt Island for bike tricks.

Watch the Roosevelt Island BMX stunts.

When Will Citibike Docking Stations Come To Roosevelt Island - Who Knows, But Cornell Tech Students Developing Pilot Roosevelt Island Dockless Bike Sharing Project

A frequent Roosevelt Island question asked is:

Why is there no @CitiBikeNYC on Roosevelt Island? @Rooseveltisland #pleasepleaseplease

— R P (@unionmaidnyc) April 23, 2018

Last weekend, I asked this group of Citibike riders visiting Roosevelt Island

where they got their Citibikes. They said from one of the many bike docking stations near their home in Long Island City and they asked why there was no docking station on Roosevelt Island, which they added, would be a perfect location.

Last month, I asked Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Public Information Officer Alonza Robertson:

Any info on Roosevelt Island getting Citibike stations?

Mr Robertson replied;

RIOC staff is holding off pursuing any bike share companies until all the Helix road construction, both lanes ..

are completed.

A group of Cornell Tech students are working on a pilot project to bring dockless bike sharing to Roosevelt Island and beyond.

The Wall Street Journal explains dockless bike sharing.



The Cornell Tech students developing a Roosevelt Island dockless bike sharing program are

• Harrison Zhao
• Owen Wang
• Hanfu Liao
• Jim Zhu

and report:

We have built our minimum variable product, which includes an emailing unlocking system and two bikes. The tasks we are working on right now is to build a Bluetooth distance sensor that will guide users to park the bikes at specific areas so that the bikes won't affect others. For our next step, we will do more user research and refine our product. We plan to buy more bikes and launch our product..... The product will be first open to Cornell Tech students, and then open to the public.

In term of our mission, we hope our product could benefit people on the island and other daily commuters and make short trips more convenient and affordable. Moreover, we wish, through our product, Cornell Tech and Cornell Tech students can better fit into the Roosevelt Island community.

This is how the dockless bike sharing would work on Roosevelt Island



and Long Island City.



The Roosevelt Island dockless bike sharing pilot project began as a student project for the Cornell Tech Remaking The City Class. Here is December 2017 presentation by the student team

Roosevelt Island Dockless Bike Sharing Program Proposal From Cornell Tech Students

to a group of Roosevelt Island residents and Cornell Tech faculty.

Currently, the closest Citibike docking stations to Roosevelt Island are in Long Island City and Astoria.

Image From Citibike

More on Roosevelt Island bike sharing efforts, which have been going on since 2010

  Former RIOC President Leslie Torres & Nonno's Pizza Owner Alphonse At 2010  Bike Sharing Demo

at this prior post.

Stay tuned for upcoming Roosevelt Island bike sharing news.

Citibike Docking Stations Coming To Astoria This Summer, Already In Long Island City - But No Citibike Stations For Roosevelt Island On Horizon

Roosevelt Island's next door neighbors living in Astoria will soon have Citibike docking stations. According to the Astoria Post:

The first batch of Citi Bikes will be rolling in to Astoria sometime this summer.

The Department of Transportation presented a map of 59 proposed locations for Citi Bike docking stations at a Community Board 1 Transportation Committee meeting last night, though DOT is still looking for feedback on the proposed locations.

Under the plan, 59 docking stations would be installed within the boundaries of Queens Plaza North, 44th Street, Ditmars Boulevard and the waterfront beginning this summer. Twelve of the locations would be installed on the roadway, and the rest would be added on the sidewalk....

Here are Citibike Potential Docks. What do you think CB1, Queens? Residents tell DOT. #cb1queens , #astoria, #@NYC_DOT pic.twitter.com/H03EtTpRy2

— CB1, Queens (@Cb1Queens) April 5, 2017

But, still no Citibike stations for Roosevelt Island even though Citibike riders can often be seen on Roosevelt Island

and Roosevelt Island was the neighborhood with most request for Citibike docking stations.

Hopes were high in September 2010 for a Roosevelt Island bike sharing station when the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) undertook a demonstration here.

 Former RIOC President Leslie Torres & Nonno's Pizza Owner Alphonse At 2010  Bike Sharing Demo

Nothing came of it.

The closest Astoria Citibike docking station to Roosevelt Island appears to be Spirit Playground, 2 blocks from the Roosevelt Island Bridge, at 36th Ave/10 Street (We Heart Astoria has a large map of the proposed sites)



Citibike stations are already located in nearby Long Island City.

 Image from Google Maps

Will Citibike ever install bicycle sharing stations on Roosevelt Island? I asked Roosevelt Island's NYC Council Member Ben Kallos, a long time supporter of Citibike stations on Roosevelt Island.

According to Council Member Kallos:

Roosevelt Island began investigating the options of a bike share in the summer of 2012 when the city first launched its program. With the ongoing support from the community, Citibike docking stations were requested for R.I., more than any other zip code in town. The community deserves to be a part of this successful initiative.  Bike share systems provide sturdy bikes at self-service docking stations and are available 24/7.

It’s a great alternative means of transportation and is a quick and healthy way to get around the island. We are currently exploring bringing CitiBike to Roosevelt Island jointly with the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation (RIOC), the Department of Transportation (NYCDOT) and Motivate.

If we can't get Citibike on Roosevelt Island in the near term, perhaps a docking station at the top of the helix

 Image From 2014 NYC DOT Western Queens Transportation Study

before entering Motorgate Garage would work?

UPDATE 4/19 - Except, I don't think we want Roosevelt Island jam packed with tourists on bicycles.

@Rooseveltisland @CitiBikeNYC Hundreds of visitors come into Visitor Center looking to rent bikes! This is something we could use

— Barbara Spiegel (@Pinkgarnetjj) April 18, 2017

ABC News Video Report Today On Bike New York's Adult Learn To Ride Program At Roosevelt Island

ABC News visited Roosevelt Island today to check out Bike New York's Adult Learn To Ride program being held at the Basketball Court next to Capobianco Field. Take a look.

ABC Breaking News | Latest News Videos

Click here for the video report.

The next Bike New York Adult Learn To Ride Program on Roosevelt Island is July 5.

Two Days Of Bike New York Freebies On Roosevelt Island - Helmet Giveaway May 26 And June 11 Bike Repair And Helmet Giveaway For Roosevelt Island Day

Bike New York will host a Helmet Giveaway on Thursday May 26 at Good Shepherd Plaza from 3:30 PM - 6:30 PM.

Also, on June 11, Bike New York will have another Helmet Giveaway as well as a Bike repair shop for Roosevelt Island Day at Good Shepherd Plaza.

Children and Adult helmets will be available while supplies last. One helmet per person.

Take a virtual bike ride around Roosevelt Island.

A @Rooseveltisland bike ride. https://t.co/aPGiRYNCP9

— Mark Lyon (@markhlyon) April 21, 2016

Click on the You Tube Full Screen icon for a great view.

Roosevelt Island Resident Yawa A Gem Of Bike New York - Here's Why

Bike New York profiles Roosevelt Island resident Yawa Kurkiewicz. According to Bike New York:

Yawa Kurkiewicz lives on Roosevelt Island, which she considers to be “a gem” of New York City. As a committed student, fierce National Bike Challenge competitor, and volunteer, we consider Yawa to be “a gem” of Bike New York. Yawa’s also an avid knitter, and, yes, she did knit that beautiful cowl she’s wearing in the video.

Meet Yawa as she describes learning to ride a bicycle and volunteering with Bike New York.



In 2014, reported on Yawa 

 Bike NY Learn To Ride Team Winner Yawa Image From Caitlin Goodspeed

learning to ride a bike and racking up the most miles in Bike NY's Learn To Ride Challenge.

Bike New York is hosting a Bicycling Basics class Tuesday February 16 at Roosevelt Island's Sportspark gym:

A 3-hour on-bike class for adults and mature teens who have recently learned how to ride a bike or who want to improve their core cycling skills. You’ll learn how to adjust your helmet for a safe, comfortable fit, choose an appropriately sized bike, adjust the seat, perform a simple mechanical inspection to ensure the bike is road-ready, start & stop with confidence, shift gears, scan & signal, and navigate around common road hazards.

Click here for more info on Bike NY free education classes.

Learn Skills To Fix And Maintain Your Bicycle From Bike NY At Roosevelt Island Sportspark Free Class Sunday July 19

Bike New York's Roosevelt Island Community Outreach Manager Caitlin Goodspeed reports:

We are hosting a free Bike Maintenance 101 class this Sunday from 1-3pm at Sportspark.

Our hands-on Bike Maintenance 101 class will give you the basic tools to fix flats, adjust brakes and derailleurs, clean and lube a chain, and perform minor adjustments that can have a significant impact on your ride quality.These skills will save you time, money, and give you a much better understanding—and appreciation—of your bike.

We encourage all people to register before the class although we will accept walk-ins.

Participants will receive a free patch kit!

Here is the registration link.

Our next summer ride will be on Thursday, July 23rd at 6pm. Meet under the Helix Ramp! 

Roosevelt Island Is Good Enough For Citibike Spring Promotional Ad But Not For CitiBike Station

The Roosevelt Island Twitterverse is offended that Citibike uses the view from Roosevelt Island for promotional purposes yet refuses to place or plan for a CitiBike docking station on Roosevelt Island.

WTF @CitiBikeNYC? If you refuse to serve @Rooseveltisland, you don't get to use it in your promotional material. pic.twitter.com/pbDtniMP6W

— Mark Lyon (@markhlyon) May 7, 2015

As previously reported, Roosevelt Island was the NYC neighborhood with the most requests for a Citibike station yet is not in Citibke future expansion plans for Phase 2 (which includes Upper East Side of Community Board 8 but not the Roosevelt Island portion of CB 8)

Image From May 6 Citibke NYC DOT Presentation To CB 8

or

 Image From DOT

phase 3.

In October 2014, Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) President Charlene Indelicato addressed issue of bike sharing:

RIOC strongly believes in increasing the amount of bike safety education and amenities available on Roosevelt Island, and we are pleased with the current state of our successful partnership with Bike New York. However, the Island's infrastructure is not currently ready to handle a large increase in cyclist traffic. Before bike sharing can come to the Island, a master plan for the implementation of bike paths and traffic infrastructure that can accommodate cyclists, pedestrians and motorists in our community needs to be designed and implemented. We plan to work with private entities such as Cornell Tech in order to create this plan and look forward to putting an innovative, inclusive strategy in place. ...

Here's May 6 NYC Department of Transportation Citibike  presentation to Community Board 8 showing locations of future Upper East Side bike stations.

More on Roosevelt Island bike sharing at these previous posts.

Roosevelt Island Bike New York Commuting Class Wednesday March 25 - Also, Roosevelt Island Bike NY Spring Kickoff Party, Upcoming Classes & Transportation Survey

 Image From Bike NY

Bike New York's Roosevelt Island Community Outreach Manager Caitlin Goodspeed reports:

Learn how to commute via bike! Bike New York will host a Bike Commuting 101 class at Sportspark Lounge on Wednesday, March 25th from 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm.

In this 1.5-hour presentation & discussion, we’ll go over picking the right bike, what to wear so you don’t arrive at work a sweaty mess, what kind of gear you’ll need to haul a change of clothes or ride at night, how and where to lock your bike, and much more.

For more information and to register, please email our Community Outreach Manager, Caitlin Goodspeed, at cgoodspeed@bike.nyc or call 212-870-2075.

Also at the end of this month we are launching our BuildingxBuilding Initiative, a series of presentations designed to introduce people to Bike New York and all of the wonderful opportunities that we have here on the island. Attendees will also learn important bike safety tips. Light refreshments will be served and along with some fun prizes! Residents should look for flyers in their residence buildings for more information.

We're also in the midst of planning our 2nd Annual Spring Kickoff Party which will happen at the Capobianco basketball court on Saturday, May 30, 2015. The pop-up bike shop will be back for the event along with the bike decorating station, free bike raffle, Bike Guard program, and more!

In addition to our normal schedule of classes at Sportspark and Capobianco basketball court, we've got some new classes on the horizon for kids and families. These classes have been designed to meet the needs of the Roosevelt Island community, a place where growing families are planting their roots.

Learn how to ride a bike before summer arrives! We have FREE bicycle education classes at Sportspark and Capobianco Field throughout the year. From learning how to ride a bike to becoming a confident city cyclist, we offer classes for people of all ages and skill levels. Please visit our website to register for classes and get more information.

Here are our upcoming classes on Roosevelt Island:

Wednesday, March 25: Bike Commuting 101, 6:30pm - 8pm (Sportspark Lounge)
Tuesday, March 31: Learn to Ride - Adults, 10am-12pm, 1pm-3pm (Sportspark Gym)
Sunday, April 12: Learn to Ride - Kids, 1pm - 3pm (Sportspark Outside BB Court)
Wednesday, April 22: Street Skills Class, 6:30pm - 8pm (Sportspark Lounge)
Saturday, May 9: Street Skills Ride, 10am - 1pm (Meet at Sportspark)
Sunday, May 17: Kids' Bicycling Basics, 10am - 1pm (Capobianco Field)
Saturday, May 30: Learn to Ride - Kids, 11am - 1pm (Capobianco Field)
Sunday, June 14: Learn to Ride - Kids, 10am - 12pm (Sportspark Outside BB Court)
Sunday, June 21: Kids' Bicycling Basics, 10am - 1pm (Capobianco Field)

We want to hear from you about transportation on Roosevelt Island! What changes do you want to see? Do you feel comfortable riding a bicycle on the island? Where would you like to see more bike racks? Please let us know what you think by taking our survey. It will take no more than 10 minutes and we would really appreciate it. To access the survey, please click here.

More information available at the Bike NY Roosevelt Island Blog or contact Community Manager Caitlin Goodspeed.

Guess Which NYC Neighborhood Has Most Requests For Citi Bike Station? The Answer Is Roosevelt Island, But Dep't Of Transportation Has No Plans To Expand Here

As reported October 31:

The NYC Department of Transportation (DOT) and Citi Bike announced earlier this week an expansion of the bike sharing program to more NYC neighborhoods...

and:

... Roosevelt Island is not included in the Citi Bike neighborhood expansion for phase 11 or phase 111 Potential Expansion.

 Image From DOT

Will this recent report from Columbia Journalism School's The Brooklyn Link help persuade the powers-that-be to locate Cit Bike stations on Roosevelt Island:

... Following the recent announcement of the phase II expansion of Citi Bike into parts of Brooklyn, Queens, and Manhattan, The Brooklyn Ink analyzed the data collected by the online portal to understand where these requests were coming from and where people said they wanted new Citi Bike stations. From 2012 to November 2014, around 36,000 people have participated in the suggestion process and have created a database of around 8,500 suggested points on the map.

In terms of neighborhoods, the highest demand comes from Roosevelt Island.

Exactly 1,937 requests came from Roosevelt and 189 of those requests actually supported one single location near West Road and the Roosevelt Island F train station. Both figures were the highest of their kind in the analysis. A lot of these requests come from people living in the luxury Octagon Park Apartments. Comments also suggest that the heavy reliance the neighborhood has on the bus system is another factor that drives the demand for Citi Bike.

The City Department of Transportation, in a statement to The Brooklyn Ink, said that at this stage there are no plans to expand Citi Bike into Roosevelt Island....

Image From NYC Bike Share

Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) President Charlene Indelicato has previously stated safety objections to Citi Bike stations on Roosevelt Island at this time. According to Ms Indelicato:

... the Island's infrastructure is not currently ready to handle a large increase in cyclist traffic. Before bike sharing can come to the Island, a master plan for the implementation of bike paths and traffic infrastructure that can accommodate cyclists, pedestrians and motorists in our community needs to be designed and implemented. We plan to work with private entities such as Cornell Tech in order to create this plan and look forward to putting an innovative, inclusive strategy in place.

When it comes to bike sharing in Queens, RIOC's focus is primarily trained on preparing Roosevelt Island for a possible future station. Therefore, we will not be advocating for a docking station near the entrance of the Roosevelt Island Bridge at 36th Avenue at this time.

Roosevelt Island's NYC Council Member Ben Kallos has expressed support for Roosevelt Island Citi Bike stations saying:

1,000 new bikes will come into use next year; 7,000 by 2017. The Council Member hopes to get as many CitiBike stations as possible into our district and to Roosevelt Island in the upcoming years....

and tweets:

Standing in support of CitiBike expansion! @bradlander @HelenRosenthal @RitchieTorres pic.twitter.com/MqRzd5c7SR
— Ben Kallos (@BenKallos) November 20, 2014

When will that support bring Citi Bike to Roosevelt Island?

Never Too Old Or Weather Too Cold To Learn To Ride A Bike - Roosevelt Island Adult Bicycle Riding Lessons From Bike New York Tuesday January 7 At Sportspark And Community Bike Forum On Thursday January 9

Image From Bike New York

You're never too old or the weather too cold to learn how to ride a bicycle. That must be the motto of Bike New York as it returns to a frigid Roosevelt Island tomorrow, January 7, with its Adult Learn To Ride Bicycle program at Sportspark. There are two sessions starting at either 10 AM or 1 PM. Registration information is here.  Don't worry about the cold. The lessons are indoors at the Sportspark gym. Classes will also be held on January 23.

Bike New York taught some adults how to ride last December 12 at Sportspark. Here's a sample of their previous Roosevelt Island lesson.



Bike New York adds:

Bike New York Community Forum
We want to hear from you!

Who: Open to all members and residents of the Roosevelt Island community
What: Come hear about our new, free bicycle education classes that are being offered on Roosevelt Island and tell us what you think. Light refreshments will be served.
Where: Manhattan Park Community Room, 4 River Road
When: Thursday, January 9, 2014 at 7:30pm

For more information, please contact Caitlin Goodspeed, Community Outreach Manager for Roosevelt Island, at cgoodspeed@bikenewyork.org or by telephone at 212-870-2075.

Bike New York's Community Outreach Director for Roosevelt Island Caitlin Goodspeed introduced herself during the December 12 Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Board of Directors Meeting Public Session. Here's what she had to say.



Any thoughts on bicycle programs for Roosevelt Island?

Roosevelt Island Resident Seeking Your Help In Recovering Stolen Bicycle

Roosevelt Island resident Rossana Ceruzzi had her bicycle stolen last Saturday evening and is seeking help in its recovery.

According to Ms. Ceruzzi:

It's a Raleigh C40/ Red / bicycle with a basket on the front.

Image of Ms. Ceruzzi's Stolen Bicycle

It was parked for 5 minutes last Saturday night between the two entrance doors of the Roosevelt Island Duane Reade store where there are two cameras one of them at eye level.

A report has been filed with the NYPD and the Duane Reade tech will send a copy of the footage (reviewed by an officer) to both PSD and NYPD.

If you see Ms. Ceruzzi'a bicycle or have any knowledge of its theft, please contact the Roosevelt Island Public Safety Department at (212) 832-4545.

Hopefully, Ms Ceruzzi will be as fortunate as this Roosevelt Island bicycle owner who had a stolen bike recovered.

Report From RIOC President Charlene Indelicato - Roosevelt Island Fall For Arts, Blackwell Park Playground Grand Opening, Bike New York Workshops, Four Freedoms Park Closed For General Assembly Meeting, PSD Partners With RI Youth Program Soccer & More

Image From RIOC

Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) President Charlene Indelicato sends the following report to the community.

School has started and Fall is moving forward at full tilt. Our Fall slate of activities is coming up quickly! Be sure to keep your eye on our website and Facebook page to keep as up-to-date as possible.

Fall for Arts

The date is set for our annual Fall for the Arts Festival. In partnership with Gallery RIVAA, RIOC will be hosting the Festival on October 5th at Southpoint Park and on the lawn south of Rivercross. There will be music, art, food and fun for all!

I understand that the painting of large outdoor murals is the Festival’s most loved tradition. I look forward to viewing them both in the Park and later at the Motorgate Gallery.

The theme for this year's event is "A Mystical Island." It is free to participate - paint and brushes are provided!

We invite you to submit a sketch of your design or any inquiries to Anna.Rankin@rioc.ny.gov along with a title and short description. The deadline for sketches is September 21, 2013.

UN General Assembly

The United Nations General Assembly will hold its 68th session from September 16 to October 5, 2013. Accordingly, there will be heightened security across the river on the East Side surrounding the UN Building and on the Island as well. Four Freedoms Park will be closed to the public for the duration of the General Assembly. Also, expect to see heightened security around transit stations during this time.

Bike New York Comes To Sportspark Roosevelt Island

Bike New York, the bicycle-focused not-for-profit organization highlighted in my last column, will hold pilots on September 22nd and 28th at the outdoor basketball court on the east side of Sportspark. Classes and workshops will be offered for kids and adults ranging from Bicycling Basics to Learn to Ride. The full Bike New York event calendar can be found at http://www.bikenewyork.org/learn/classes-workshops/overview/

Blackwell Park Tot Lot

We are happy to announce that the new tot lot located at Blackwell Park will open Thursday, September 19, 2013 with a ribbon cutting to take place at 3:30 pm. The tot lot will replace the current lot, which will be removed to begin the construction of Riverwalk Building 7 by Hudson/Related. This 200,000 square foot residential building, featuring 260 rental apartments, will take approximately 2 years to complete, according to the developer.

PSD Partners with the Roosevelt Island Youth Program

Last weekend marked the beginning of a new partnership between the Roosevelt Island Youth Program and RIOC PSD. This fall a PSD officer will serve as an assistant soccer coach with the Youth Program. I would like to thank all involved, especially Interim PSD Director McManus and Officer Martinez for all their help in organizing this event.

Motorgate Parking Structure Project Update

On September 19, work will begin in Section 4B North. The renovations have been moving steadily along throughout the garage and we would like to thank our residents and visitors for their cooperation as we modernize the facility. When the project moves to Section 4B North, new signage will be posted to help navigate the garage. The entire project is expected to be completed in Winter 2014.

New Advertising Policy

RIOC’s newly introduced policy for advertising and posting on the Tram, Red Bus, and Main Street Kiosks is available on our website at http://rioc.ny.gov/pdf/AdvertisingPolicy.pdf

Ms Indelicato gave the following report to the September 12 RIOC Board of Directors meeting thanking RIOC staff for their hard work preparing for the meeting. The thanks were echoed by RIOC Director David Kraut.



Mr. Kraut added that, with certain exceptions due to Hurricane Sandy, Roosevelt Island is in better shape now that at any time in his 35 years of living here.

Report From RIOC President Charlene Indelicato - Bike New York Setting Up Shop On Roosevelt Island, Last Outdoor Movie Of The Summer, Fall For Arts, Motorgate Renovations & OEM Hurricane Evacuation Presentation

 Image of RIOC President Charlene Indelicato From RIOC

Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) President Charlene Indelicato sends the following report to the community.

The unofficial end of summer comes this weekend. After Labor Day our Island and the rest of New York City will return to its hustle and bustle after these quiet days of August.

Our kids will be returning to schools, both public and private. Please use additional caution when driving around the Island prior to and after schools are in session. We want to make sure everyone gets to class safely.

We have had a great summer here on Roosevelt Island, and I hope we can continue that through the fall.

Bike New York setting up shop

Bike New York is a not-for-profit organization, with a mission to facilitate and promote cycling in all five boroughs of New York City through education and public events, as well as to collaborate with both community organizations and municipal agencies. Bike New York comes to our Island through a generous grant to establish a bicycle education center. In looking for the ideal neighborhood, Bike New York identified Roosevelt Island as their preferred location and we are glad they saw what we knew already!

We are in the process of finalizing their location on the Island, but once opened, they will conduct workshops and other events that encourage biking as an exercise, as a form of commuting and just away to spend a lovely Saturday afternoon on our waterfront. We will share more details about Bike New York and its services as plans are finalized.

Closing out the summer with The Breakfast Club

The Breakfast Club is the final installment in RIOC’s Outdoor Summer Movie Series. If you are reading this on Friday, come join us for our last summer film. The movie will start at 8:15 p.m., but the fun starts at South Point Park at 7:00 p.m. with family friendly trivia with fun prizes. The park is ADA-accessible, and the Red Bus will stop at the nearby bus stop every 15 minutes. This summer has seen hundreds of people come to our movies, and for the most part the weather has cooperated. Next summer, we hope to bring another slate of great films to the Island to enjoy under the stars.

Fall for Arts

We are beginning to look forward to the Fall and our events calendar is filling up. One of our more popular events is Fall for Arts. We always enjoy celebrating art throughout our community and I am looking forward to my first Fall for Arts festival scheduled for Saturday, October 5th. I will be discussing this further in the coming weeks, but I just want give everyone something to look forward to as the leaves begin to fall and the temperature begins to cool.

Motorgate renovations continue

As the renovations keep moving on the Motorgate garage, another section is now complete. Section 5A, both North and South, has been completed. Work will now move to Section 5B. As these improvements and renovations continue, we want to remind everyone who uses Motorgate to follow posted signs and move slowly through the garage. Safety is our number one priority, so we urge you to exercise caution.

OEM comes to Roosevelt Island to talk evacuation routes

This past Tuesday, working with other co-sponsors, we brought the New York City Office of Emergency Management (OEM) to the Island to talk about evacuation routes. As storms get worse year by year, our residents need to know what to do if an evacuation is ordered. OEM graciously came to the Island to give a presentation at the Manhattan Park Theater Club about what to do in an evacuation emergency.

On behalf of everyone at RIOC, I want to wish the entire Roosevelt Island community a Happy Labor Day.

More on Bike New York



at their web site.

Would You Like Bike Sharing On Roosevelt Island? If So, Let Community Planning Board 8 Know Tomorrow During Public Hearing

Image of Potential Roosevelt Island Bike Sharing Station from Hunter College Access RI(Page 39)

A reminder from the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC):

The Roosevelt Island Community is encouraged to attend a public hearing hosted by Community Board 8 that will discuss Roosevelt Island as a demo site for bike sharing as part of the city-wide Department of Transportation (DOT) Bike Sharing Program.

 

When: Wednesday, May 2nd at 6:30 PM

 

Where: Lenox Hill Hospital, located at 131 East 76th Street (Einhorn Auditorium).

 

After the discussion, you will have the chance to voice your opinion about this matter.

 

Sincerely,

Roosevelt Island Operating Corp Advisories Group

More on Community Planning Board 8 Roosevelt Island Bike Sharing public hearing from previous post.

Roosevelt Island Mountain Bike Rider Travels West Promenade From Octagon To F Train Subway Platform - Take The Virtual Ride

Take this virtual bumpy trip with a Roosevelt Island Mountain Bike Rider along the West Promenade from the Octagon to subway station with a stop for some fresh fruit and then down the escalator to F Train for parts unknown.

You Tube Video of Roosevelt Island Bike Ride

Bike Sharing Stations On Roosevelt Island To Be Discussed At May 2 Community Planning Board 8 Transportation Committee Meeting

Image of Potential Roosevelt Island Bike Sharing Station from Hunter College Access RI(Page 39)

Would you like to see Bike Sharing come to Roosevelt Island? If the answer is yes, make sure you attend the Community Planning Board 8 Transportation Committee May 2 6:30 PM meeting. On the Agenda is a:

Discussion of having a station or stations on Roosevelt Island as part of the DOT pilot Bike Share Program

Here's the flyer announcing the meeting.



More on Roosevelt Island Bike sharing from previous post and NYC Department of Transportation.

Bike Sharing Definitely Coming To New York City - You Can Help Bring Alta Bicycle Sharing To Roosevelt Island By Voting For It Now

RIOC President Leslie Torres & Rivewalk Bar/Nonno's Pizza Owner Alphonse At Bike Sharing Demonstration Last Year

Streetsblog reported today:

Addressing a plaza full of reporters at Madison Square this afternoon, Transportation Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan announced that the city is entering the next phase of its initiative to launch a public bike system stretching from the Upper West Side to Bedford Stuyvesant. The system will be run by Alta Bike Share and consist of about 600 stations with 10,000 bicycles, creating a network of comparable size and density to bike-share systems in cities like London and Paris....

How does this New York City program effect Roosevelt Island's attempt to bring bike sharing to our neighborhood? I asked former Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Director Jonathan Kalkin who was involved in previous efforts to bring bike sharing to Roosevelt Island that question.

Former RIOC Director Kalkin and Current Director Faye Christian At Bike Sharing Demonstraton Last Year

Mr. Kalkin replied:

As many Islanders know Roosevelt Island tested bike sharing and did a survey after both Columbia and Hunter recommended a program like this on Roosevelt Island in their study. The response from the survey and residents trying it out was very positive. While I was on the RIOC Operations Committee we moved forward on an RFP for bike sharing. It was written and ready for distribution, but during subsequent meetings I set up with DOT we discussed having a station or two on the Upper East Side and/or in Queens. A lot of people in the survey had shown an interest in using the bikes off Island or to ride into other parts of the city and so I brought up that idea with DOT. DOT was also very interested in bike sharing at the time and they said to us that they liked the idea of Roosevelt Island having a bike sharing system that works with the NYC program. There were meetings and communication with DOT after that and RIOC was told that a  bike sharing vendor would be chosen around now and that if we waited we could have a compatible system. It is very exciting to hear this announcement and I'm looking forward to biking around Roosevelt Island and in the future other parts of the city.

According to NYC Bike Share:

...Bike share is a privately-funded & operated, city-supported, program that adds a new affordable option to getting around New York City. Think Zipcar with bikes, and you don’t have to bring the bike back to where you started! Alta Bicycle Share will run, manage and maintain the bike share system, while NYC DOT will coordinate community outreach and regulate station siting....

... NYC DOT and Alta Bicycle Share invite you to help craft a system that's designed for New York City. We invite you to attend special events, open houses and workshops throughout the city, try out the bikes and give your feedback. Get started now by dropping a pin on the map and telling us why you'd like a station there....

So here's what you can do to bring bike sharing to Roosevelt Island. Click on this link and say you want a bike sharing station on Roosevelt Island - do it now - please.

Here's how bike sharing works.


The Phenomenal Success of Capital Bikeshare from Streetfilms on Vimeo.

and for the planned New York City program:


Remember to click here and make your voice count to bring bike sharing to Roosevelt Island.