Niagara Power Baseball and Freedom Ride
For Immediate Release: July 20, 2021
Reddy Bikeshare, in partnership with Independent Health, Team up with Niagara Power Baseball and Underground Railroad Heritage Center to get more Residents Biking
NIAGARA FALLS, NY – Reddy Bikeshare and Independent Health announced today that Reddy staff will be at the Niagara Power game this Friday, July 23 at 6 pm, to promote the program to residents. Reddy Bikeshare is also partnering with the Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Center on a Freedom Ride Bike Tour, happening Saturday, July 24th at 1 pm.
$1 annual passes are available to residents of Niagara Falls 18 and older, plus an additional $0.01/minute to ride, made possible through their partnership with Independent Health and with support from the City of Niagara Falls.
“In collaboration with these partners, the City of Niagara Falls has worked hard to provide residents the opportunity to purchase an annual pass for the incredibly low price of $1.00, allowing our community to easily utilize these bikes. We know that our residents and visitors enjoy spending time outside in our City, and it’s opportunities like this that not only allow this accessibility but provide exercise options as well as transportation. We are glad to see the success of this program and the growing bike culture within our community.””
“We want to be seen as part of the community, because Reddy bikes are here for the community, they are not just for tourists. Working with the Office of Mayor Restaino, Sal Maglie Stadium, the Underground Railroad Heritage Center, and all of our station and community partners across the city, both Reddy and Independent Health want to help bolster bike culture here and encourage healthy and active transportation and recreation.”
Reddy representatives will be available throughout the duration of the ball game to sign people up for the $1 membership program, offer bikeshare tutorials, and offer free merchandise giveaways while supplies last. Reddy will also recruit participants to the first Freedom Ride Bike Tour led by the Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Center to explore sites from the 1800s and their connections to the Underground Railroad.
Reddy will be joined by GObike Niagara as well as the Create a Healthier Niagara Falls Collaborative to support engagement efforts with residents that focus on biking. GObike will be asking community members for their input on traffic safety concerns, if and where they'd like to see bike parking installed, and their priorities for complete streets projects in their neighborhoods.
The Create a Healthier Niagara Falls Collaborative (CHNFC) will be promoting their E-Bike Library program, an initiative that is free to participate in for residents 18 and older available now through October. “Our goal is to get our community more active by making bicycling more accessible,” said Dolores Pereira, a CHNFC representative. Attendees at the ball game this Friday will have a chance to sign up, receive an e-bike demonstration and learn more about how to access the e-bikes stationed at The Nest, 1702 Pine Ave. A survey and orientation are required to join the program.
“We are so happy to welcome all three of these local community partners to join us for what promises to be a one-of-a-kind night at Sal Maglie Stadium,” said Pat Tutka, Executive Director of Niagara Power Baseball. “We’re also going to retire the jersey of former Niagara Falls Rapids player, James Voutor, host an Anchor Bar chicken wing contest, and enjoy some post-game fireworks, so this is one game you don’t want to miss.”
For folks who can’t make the game or the Freedom Ride, but want to redeem a $1 annual pass to Reddy Bikeshare, registration is available at the Reddy Bikeshare kiosk inside the Amtrak Station and Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Center at 825 Depot Ave W. Registration is also available by scanning the QR code located at the top of the bike racks at stations in the North End, Deveaux, LaSalle, Little Italy, the Suspension Bridge District, and the South End.
Visit reddybikeshare.com for more information or download the Social Bicycles app to view locations.
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About Independent Health
Independent Health, a not-for-profit health plan headquartered in Buffalo, New York, serves nearly 330,000 members and provides innovative health care products and benefits designed to engage consumers in their health and well-being. Established in 1980, our comprehensive portfolio of progressive products includes HMO, POS, PPO and EPO products, Medicare and Medicaid plans, individual and small group Exchange products, consumer-directed plans, and health savings accounts, plus coverage for self-funded employers. Our subsidiaries and affiliate companies include pharmacy benefit management, specialty pharmacy, and the Independent Health Foundation. The company has been recognized nationally for its award-winning customer service, dedication to quality health care, and unmatched relationships with physicians and providers. To learn more, go to www.independenthealth.com.
About Reddy Bikeshare/Shared Mobility Inc
Reddy Bikeshare is a program of Shared Mobility Inc (SMI) in partnership with Independent Health. Reddy Bikeshare first launched in Buffalo in July of 2016 and expanded to Niagara Falls in September of 2019. 400 bikes are available at 95 locations between both cities. The Reddy Bikeshare and Shared Mobility teams work together to provide better access to healthy and affordable transportation options for the communities they serve. Throughout its 12 years of experience, SMI has worked across the shared mobility spectrum in the fundraising, deployment, growth, and evaluation of shared transportation systems. This includes bikesharing, carsharing, volunteer transportation, vanpooling, and transportation demand management programs. It seeks to apply the same social-equity-focused mindset to its nationwide portfolio of projects. For more information, visit www.sharedmobilty.org or reddybikeshare.com