Over the last several years, the New York State Department of Transportation’s (NYSDOT) Statewide Mobility Services (SMS) Program has built a long-standing partnership with the Long Island Bike Co-Operative, a local non-profit organization that refurbishes and donates pre-owned bikes. In early 2024, the NYSDOT SMS Program helped launch a new initiative to collaborate with the Long Island Bike Co-Operative to bring bikes to community-centered organizations in disadvantaged areas. This effort aims to expand alternative modes of transportation, reduce traffic congestion, and improve local air quality.

A bike-borrow program or bike lending library, provides patrons of a library or other community-based organization the opportunity to check out or “borrow” a bike for a two-week period, entirely free of charge. These programs aim to target communities with limited public transit access and are designated as either disadvantaged as sited in the New York State Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, or Justice40 areas. As of January 2025, dozens of bikes have been distributed for borrowing among four bike-borrow programs across Long Island, with plans for expansion ahead of Spring 2025.

This information session will be co-hosted by Paul Spreer and Emma Balsam, two representatives of the NYSDOT SMS Program’s bike-borrow initiative. They will be going over topics such as:

•            Identifying the need for a bike-borrow program

•            How the program works

•            Community benefits

•            Program structure

•            Steps to launching a program

•            Impacts on the community

The presentation will be recorded. Participants will receive 1 CE credit. This presentation is not eligible for trustee education credit. Click here to access the RCLS Code of Conduct.