A little bit of Salem news for the blog today!! Details are per the city of Salem and The Patch.
“An undeniable sign of the start of spring, Salem’s bike share has relaunched for the 2019 season. Salem residents and visitors will have even more opportunities to take advantage of warmer weather, thanks to expanded support from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts that has made it possible to increase the fleet size by 30 bikes and to add six new docking stations throughout the city. This brings the system total to 80 bikes and 16 docks.
“Please join me in celebrating the start of spring by welcoming back Salem’s Zagster bike share system,” said Mayor Kim Driscoll. “Having logged nearly 10,000 rides in its first two seasons, our partnership with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts and Salem State University has helped us build a successful system. With increased support from Blue Cross, an expanded system will be an even more viable means of getting around Salem.”
Bike share docks are located at destinations throughout Salem, such as the Commuter Rail Station, Salem State University, Salem Willows Park and the ferry terminal at Blaney Street. Six new docks expand the reach of the system to locations such as Winter Island, Collins Cove and the new Mayor Anthony Salvo Multiuse Path along Canal Street. In addition to the docking stations, riders may also start or end a ride at any public bike rack.
“We couldn’t be more excited for our continued partnership with the City of Salem to expand and improve the bike share,” said Jeff Bellows, Vice President of Corporate Citizenship and Public Affairs at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts. “As a company, we’re passionate about helping people live healthier lives in healthier environments, and we hope that this expansion will give more people in Salem an opportunity to explore biking as an active, healthy and sustainable way to get around.”
The bike share is particularly popular with Salem State University students who make up the largest group of riders and will benefit from the new docking station in front of the Ellison Campus Center. The new docking station joins two others on central and south campuses. On April 11, Salem State will highlight the bike share during a celebratory event on campus as part of its Earth Week festivities. From 12:30 to 3:30 p.m., everyone will be invited to pedal blender bikes to make fruit smoothies, enter bike helmet raffles and collect giveaways and information about biking. The broader public is invited to attend and more information can be found on Salem State’s website.
“Salem State students, faculty and staff have really embraced the Zagster bikes and are incredibly grateful for the support from Blue Cross,” said Tara Gallagher, Salem State University Sustainability Coordinator. “The community is eagerly awaiting the spring 2020 expansion of the bike path from Mill Street downtown to Central Campus.”
The expansion of the bike share system comes at a time of great momentum for cycling in Salem. The City recently cut the ribbon on the first phase of the Mayor Anthony Salvo Multiuse Path along Canal Street. When phase two is completed, it will connect downtown to Salem State, Marblehead and beyond. In addition, the City has completed an updated Bike Master Plan that charts the development of a comprehensive network of bike infrastructure, programs and policies to support cycling, to be implemented over the coming years.
Riders can sign up for Zagster at www.zagster.com/salem or through the Zagster smartphone app. To begin a ride, follow Zagster’s instructions to unlock a bike either through the app or with SMS text messaging.”
Enjoy!! <3
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