Flashes of sea-foam green now glimmer through Syracuse. They’re Gotcha bikes— now the official bike-sharing service of Syracuse. There’s 35 hubs spread across the city, notably in the Westcott Neighnborhood, Onondaga Street, the corner of Fayette and Montgomery Street and on the campus of Syracuse University.
“This program makes it easier for people to get around and see the City while reducing congestion and pollution—all while promoting active transportation,” Mayor Ben Walsh said of the program. Gotcha bikes were installed without the use of taxpayer money.
“On a national level, transportation is critical to the economy… just as it is at the local level,” says Carl Schramm, an SU Professor, Economist and author of the book, Burn the Business Plan. “”It’s a great great advance. For freedom of people, it’s a great advance for labor markets, and for the convenience of citizens.”
Schramm did admit bike transportation in Syracuse comes with hazards. A pothole in the road can be disastrous for bikers, and the city’s wintery conditions make road maintenance difficult.
The new bikes were garnering plenty of attention outside SU’s Martin J. Whitman School of Management. Student Spencer Small stumbled upon the bikes for the first time.
“You know I live a couple miles from campus so it is kind of a haul,” Small said, “so this makes it a lot easier and honestly the bus is very crowded sometimes and you can’t get on. This makes it hassle free and if you see one lying around you can come and grab it. So it’s nice.”
Small, a member of Orange men’s lacrosse team, would have no problem powering the bike on his own accord. But for residents with hilly commutes, long treks or fitness deficiencies, Gotcha Bikes have an automatic electric motor that boosts riders forward as they peddle. They’re also equipped with electronic locks, taillights, headlights and gear shifters.
To take out a Gotcha bike, first download the Gotcha App. Sign up requires an uploaded drivers license and credit card information. Scanning the code on the bike’s dashboard unlocks the bike for usage. Monthly and yearly subscriptions are available and discounted for SU Students and faculty. Daily use is a $2 charge plus 15 cents per minute.
