Suffolk County’s bike share program had its inaugural ride yesterday as the system gets ready for its launch next month.
Town and county officials rode fixed-gear orange-colored bikes through downtown Patchogue.
Patchogue Mayor Paul Pontieri says bikes connect people in a way cars can’t.
“This is so people get to know our community, become part of our community. When you’re on a bike, you’re part of the community. When you’re in a car, you’re going from place to place.”
The bike share system will officially launch next month with 100 bikes and 24 stations in Babylon, Patchogue and two other communities in Suffolk.
Users will pay a $1 for 15 minutes of riding through a bike share app called Pace.
It’s the first municipal bike sharing program on Long Island.
