First Resident-Based Bike-Sharing Program Debuts in New York City

By Jeffrey Steele, Contributing Writer

New York—The first resident-based bike-sharing program in New York City was launched by Related Companies and Zagster, which provides bikes-as-a-service. This means Related Companies is the first real estate company to offer a bike-sharing program at multiple properties in more than one city. Ten of Related’s New York City and Boston properties offer bikes, and the company is planning to add properties in Chicago and San Francisco.

Related residents can now bike around town from any one of the company’s initial bike share locations. Increasing demand will bring additional bikes and bike-sharing properties, the company reports.

According to Zagster, the bike-sharing program offered by Related is a way for Related to meet residents’ needs while also differentiating itself from other properties in a highly competitive market. “Related understands the changing dynamics of today’s urban resident, who is very interested in sustainable, convenient and efficient transportation,” says Timothy Ericson, co-founder and CEO of Zagster, a six-year-old company based in Cambridge, Mass.

Adds Daria Salusbury, Related senior vice president, and the individual who heads the company’s luxury residential leasing operations: “Related prides itself on bringing first-to-market innovations to our residential offerings. From being the first landlord to offer credit card payments, to developing one of the nation’s initial green high-rise residential buildings, to the full integration of the world’s finest fitness brand into our residential portfolio, Related continues to seek new opportunities to anticipate our residents’ needs and improve their lifestyle.”

Among the bikes offered by Zagster is the Breezer Uptown, a highly acclaimed bike expressly designed for city riding and characterized by its durable construction and light weight.

All Zagster bikes in the program are located on property in garages or parking structures. Every bike is equipped with generous baskets for transporting groceries, take out orders or shopping bags. And each contains a bike lock whose key is stored inside a lockbox.

After joining Zagster through www.zagster.com, residents of Related properties will text “start” plus the bike number (for example, “start 37”) to a phone number. A confirmation message with access code for the lockbox is texted back. The bike is thereby reserved for the rest of the day or until returned by the rider.

Once out in the city, whether up in Harlem or down on Broadway, riders will be able to conveniently park their bikes wherever they prefer, using attached flexible locks to secure the bikes. Riders simply text “end” to the same number to release the bike for the next rider.

“We are proud to partner with Zagster and become the first national real estate company to offer its residents an exclusive onsite bike-sharing service across the country,” Salusbury says. “Residents will be able to experience the ultimate in convenience while exercising, running errands and living green.”

In addition to New York, Related Midwest will soon be rolling out this bike-share program at 500 Lake Shore Drive in Chicago.