Reddy Bikeshare, in partnership with Independent Health, Unveils Reddy+
Buffalo, NY - [Oct. 17, 2023] - Reddy Bikeshare, the bikeshare network serving Buffalo and Niagara Falls, is introducing Reddy+, its first fleet of pedal assist e-bikes, to enhance active living and mobility options for Western New Yorkers and visitors.
The first wave of Reddy+ Bikes were unveiled Tuesday at Reddy Bikeshare & Independent Health’s Biketober Bash, an end-of-season reception at the Buffalo History Museum that awarded prizes to cyclists who logged the most miles on a Reddy Bike this season. By 2025, the Reddy Team, in partnership with Independent Health, will scale up the fleet of 400 standard bikes to a mixed fleet of 600 bikes, featuring Reddy Bikes and Reddy+ Bikes.
“E-bikes are transforming how people move around cities,” said Simon Husted, Reddy Bikeshare’s Communications and Marketing Coordinator. “The demand for e-bikes here in Western New York cannot be overstated. For many folks, an electric pedal assist is the pivotal piece they need to make biking safe and comfortable.”
Pedal-assist e-bikes provide users with a battery-powered boost to help them move farther and keep up with friends and family members.
The Reddy+ Bikes feature all-new hardware, equipped with the same unlocking technology used on all existing Reddy Bikes. Users can unlock a Reddy+ Bike with the scan of a QR code at the promotional rate of $0.20 per minute, which is one of the most affordable prices in the country for e-bikes.
“Our non-profit organization’s goal is to provide affordable, environmentally friendly and healthy transportation options for people who live or visit Western New York.'' says Michael Galligano CEO of Shared Mobility Inc, the parent nonprofit of Reddy Bikeshare. “Just like our standard bikes, Reddy+ Bikes will be very popular.”
Shared Mobility Inc., and Independent Health launched the bikeshare program seven years ago. Since then, more than 43,000 people have pedaled a combined 560,000 miles and burned more than 22.4 million calories on a Reddy Bike. The unveiling of Reddy+ Bikes is intended to accelerate that growth and help more folks find the joy of biking.
“The health of our community is at the heart of what we do at Independent Health,” Independent Health President and CEO Michael W. Cropp, M.D, said. “As Western New York’s only local health plan, we know it’s our responsibility to ensure our entire community has opportunities to live a healthy lifestyle. We’ve been committed to our partnership with Reddy Bikeshare since its inception in 2016 and are proud to see the program continue to evolve in this way. Promoting physical activity and a healthy lifestyle is not just a commitment of ours, but a responsibility we all share to create a culture of health in the community, and these pedal assist bikes are a part of that mission. The new e-bikes mean more people can now have access to and enjoy the benefits of cycling in our region, and we are excited to see them hit the road across Buffalo and Niagara Falls.”
M&T Bank, Western New York’s second largest private-sector employer, has been a pivotal supporter of Reddy Bikeshare since 2017, through sponsorship of multiple bikeshare stations and providing employees with free bikeshare annual passes. Nearly 1,400 M&T Bank employees have signed up for the free pass and pedaled a combined 18,400 miles across Western New York.
"The availability of Reddy Bikes near work have transformed the traditional lunch break and have also made it easy to navigate around downtown," said Ariel Jaimes, a Business Systems Analyst employee at M&T Bank and founder of the company's Fitness Resource Group (MTBFit). “I know for a fact the addition of e-bikes in the system will spark greater interest in our cycling community.”
The introduction of e-bikes in Buffalo & Niagara Falls means more folks here can find an affordable means of enjoying the two city’s growing network of trails and bike lanes.
"As we continue to work with partners across Western New York to grow our system of complete streets, trails and greenways - cycling has become a popular form of recreation and a viable active transportation option," stated Justin Booth, Executive Director of GObike Buffalo. "Coupled with the addition of pedal assist e-bikes, we are seeing more people biking longer through life and utilizing this healthy and sustainable option for more daily trips."
Biking is a source of healthy recreation and reliable transportation and e-bikes extend that to a wider audience. Brian Archie from Create a Healthier Niagara Falls Collaborative (CHNFC) has witnessed first-hand how e-bikes transform the lives of folks with no or limited access to cars. In July, his non-profit organization launched its E-Bike Library–loaning refurbished e-bikes to qualifying Niagara Falls residents in need of low-cost mobility options.
“E-bikes were introduced in Niagara Falls this summer with much fanfare.” said Brian Archie, a co-chair of CHNFC. “From seniors to middle-age adults, many expressed this was the first time they had ridden a bike in decades. E-bikes are easy to use and provide an opportunity for residents to get healthy while enjoying the outdoors and caring for their mental, social and emotional health.”
Just like Reddy Bikes, users can find the location of every Reddy+ Bike on Reddy Bikeshare’s “SoBi” app, as well as the battery level on each bike. All the bikes are categorized as Class 1 e-bikes, which means the device provides a safe and gradual assist when pedaling. The rules of riding are no different than a Reddy Bike: users must obey all traffic laws and must be at least 18 years old to ride.
All bikes will be available for unlocking and usage until early November–as weather permitting–and will be redeployed in Spring 2024.
About Independent Health
Independent Health, a not-for-profit health plan headquartered in Buffalo, New York, serves nearly 400,000 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 include HMO, POS, PPO and EPO products, Medicare and Medicaid plans, traditional indemnity insurance, 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 Shared Mobility
Shared Mobility Inc. (SMI) of Buffalo, New York is a transportation solutions nonprofit that focuses on cutting-edge technology and best practices to build mobility systems that serve disadvantaged communities in small and mid-sized markets. These communities are not traditional markets for shared mobility operators, and SMI’s work often requires tailoring mobility solutions to fit the needs of each area. Throughout its 10 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. Reddy Bikeshare, a program of SMI, launched on July 21, 2016, and has steadily grown in usage and membership ever since. Last year, Reddy Bikeshare members logged 47,254 trips, an all-time record of trips in the system. That total represents a 21% increase from 2021, which held the record prior.
SMI seeks to apply the same social-equity focused mindset to its nationwide portfolio of projects. For further information, visit www.sharedmobilty.org.
