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The City is seeking bids for a bike sharing program it hopes to have up and running by Memorial Day.

“When you address bicycling in Asbury Park, you’re addressing many concerns simultaneously,” Deputy Mayor Amy Quinn said. “Better biking facilities and programs is part of the City’s larger commitment to making our roads better for everyone, whether they’re in a car, on foot, or on a bike.”

Similar to New York city bike share program, Asbury Park would be the fourth municipality in the state to implement a bike sharing program, City Manager Michael Capabianco said. Jersey City, Hoboken and New Brunswick have similar programs.

“This is something the city definitely needs,” he said.

The bike sharing program would be run by the third party vendor, Capabianco said.

The goal will be to place a bike sharing station in the downtown, waterfront, west side neighborhood, and at the transportation center, he said.

Like other programs, customers will be able to pick up a bike at one location and leave it at another.

“One of the ways we can increase parking availability, particularly during our peak summer season, is to provide other means of transportation to travel to and from the Transportation Center, the waterfront, and other destinations all over the City,” said Transportation Manager Mike Manzella said in a written statement. “If we can incentivize visitors to take public transit to get to Asbury Park and then move around the City using bikeshare, our hope is that less visitors will choose to drive to the City and park here.”

In related news, the folks at Asbury Pedalcycle hope to have their 15-passenger bike up and running by Memorial Day.

Currently in the midst of constructing the custom built vehicle, being unveiled via social media, the Asbury Pedalcycle will offer whole bike and seat rentals.

The open-air pedal tour bus has seats lining both sides and a back bench for riders, according to their website. An attached canopy will protect riders from the rain.

While an Asbury Pedalcycle guide will do the driving, it will be up to the the participants to run the 5 to 8 mile per hour pedal bus.

The tours will begin and end at The Asbury, the hotel and entertainment located at 210 Fifth Avenue.

For more information, visit www.pedalap.com.

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