The ValleyBike Share program is ready for riders. 

Participating communities and the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission have been working for nearly two years to start the region’s first bike share program. Communities contracted a collaboration and partnership with Bewegen Technologies and Corps Logistics to bring the bike rental program to our region.

“It’s going to connect the Valley in a new and exciting way,” said South Hadley Select Board Chairman Ira Brezinsky. 

Stations will be located in Amherst, Holyoke, Northampton, South Hadley, Springfield and at the University of Massachusetts. Riders can pick up a bike at one station, and drop it off at another.

Northampton Director of Planning and Sustainability Wayne Friedman told 22News “50 stations eventually, about 30 to 35 today. Five or six more coming on this weekend, and then the last ones we’ll be building on the next few months.”

Participating community leaders gathered in the Smith College gymnasium to launch the program and take a ride around the track. 

The ValleyBike program connects communities, its a healthy alternative to public transportation and it also reduces greenhouse gas emissions. Your ValleyBike Share electric pedal assist bike will assist you with a little extra push when you need it most, according to its website. 

“Connect the two ends of our town. South Hadley center and South Hadley falls have been viewed as, very much, as separate neighbors certainly, and in some respect as separate communities and we’ve done a lot to break down those barriers,” said Brezinsky. 

ValleyBike Share received $1.3 million in federal funding from the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality program. 

Riders will cover about one-third of the cost. The remaining two thirds will be covered by sponsors.