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Hudson Bike Share bicycles outside the Hoboken PATH station. Mile Square City and Jersey City officials are sparring over whether Hudson Bike bicycles should be allowed to be locked up at Jersey City public bike racks. Reena Rose Sibayan | The Jersey Journal
(Reena Rose Sibayan)
A quarrel over bikes is pitting Jersey City against neighboring Mile Square City.
At issue are bicycles from Hoboken's Hudson Bike Share system that last fall began showing up en masse at Jersey City's public bike racks. Jersey City officials believe Hudson Bike is bringing the bikes over to Jersey City by the dozen -- a charge Hoboken disputes -- and competing with Jersey City's own Citi Bike system.
The disagreement has led Jersey City council members to introduce a measure aimed at restricting how long commercial bikes can be parked at public bike racks, a response to the charge that Hudson Bike is "hogging" racks near PATH stations. Unlike Citi Bike bicycles, Hudson Bike bikes do not need to be parked at specific locations.
Meanwhile, a planned Citi Bike Jersey City station just outside the Hoboken PATH station -- craved by Citi Bike users who use that PATH line to commute into New York City -- has been kiboshed for now as officials with the two cities trade barbs.
"It is disappointing to see such a regressive transportation proposal from our usually progressive neighbor in Jersey City," Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer said in a statement to The Jersey Journal, referring to the measure introduced by the council last week. "Targeting bike-share bikes in this manner has no legitimate governmental purpose and would be an unfortunate step back for urban transportation."
Ward E Councilwoman Candice Osborne is leading the charge on Jersey City's end.
"We must honor our contract with Citi Bike and prevent private companies from monopolizing public bike racks at the expense of Jersey City residents," Osborne said.
Hoboken, Jersey City and Weehawken were once in talks to create a bike-share system together, but Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop opted to join the Citi Bike system instead, and Weehawken Mayor Richard Turner said he didn't want to raise money to fund a bike-share program. Hudson Bike Share launched in Hoboken in October.
Jersey City residents began telling Obsorne in November that they saw Downtown bike racks stocked with Hudson Bike bicycles as early as 6:30 a.m. Osborne believes this shows the company behind Hoboken's system is bringing large numbers of bikes over to Jersey City, though Zimmer told Fulop in a Nov. 10 email that "the only bikes that have ended up in Jersey City are from riders who have taken them there."
Zimmer, Fulop and Osborne began negotiating, with Zimmer in the Nov. 10 email saying Citi Bike Jersey City could install a bike station near the Hoboken PATH station if Jersey City would allow Hudson Bike to install three dedicated bike racks at the Newport, Exchange Place and Grove Street PATH stations. Osborne in response said she would be OK with three Hudson Bike racks in Jersey City in exchange for three Citi Bike Jersey City stations in Hoboken.
Osborne told The Jersey Journal that Hoboken turned down this offer. Hoboken spokesman Juan Melli called Osborne's comments a mischaracterization of discussions between Zimmer and Fulop.
It's not clear whether the two sides will come to an agreement before the council formally adopts its measure targeting Hudson Bike (Ord. 16.057), which would also authorize fines of up to $1,000 for violators.
Zimmer said she remains open to a deal.
"The solution to high demand for bike parking is to add more parking capacity," she said.
A Citi Bike station near the Hoboken PATH would make Lianne M. Cospito happy. A Jersey City Heights resident, Cospito said she would use Citi Bike far more often if she could dock one of its bikes outside that PATH station.
On a recent weekend, she and her husband "Citi Biked to Hamilton Park for errands and, then, wanted to meet friends in Hoboken -- our choices were to walk or call a car service," she said, adding later that "it's disappointing that politics gets in the way."
Terrence T. McDonald may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @terrencemcd. Find The Jersey Journal on Facebook.