One Brooklyn
December 13, 2019
Photo Credit: Erica Krodman/Brooklyn BP’s Office
Brooklyn, NY – Today, Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams joined Oonee, NYC Council Speaker Corey Johnson, NYC Council Majority Leader Laurie Cumbo, and transportation advocates to unveil Oonee, the first secure parking and service hub for bicycles and scooters in New York City. The first permanent installation is located at Atlantic Terminal.
The announcement comes as cycling throughout the five boroughs, and Brooklyn in particular, experiences rapid growth. A report from the New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) released in May of this year found that as of 2017, according to rolling three-year averages, there were 20,771 cyclist commuters in Brooklyn, out of a total of 48,797 cyclist commuters citywide. The same report found that between 2012 and 2017, the number of people cycling to work in New York City increased by 55 percent. Overall, the report estimates, 793,000 adult New Yorkers regularly ride bicycles.
“As an avid cyclist myself, I know that one of the greatest challenges of getting around our borough and our city on two wheels is parking your bike securely. The arrival of the Oonee Pod heralds a new era in New York City cycling, and it is fitting that its first permanent kiosk is located in the heart of Brooklyn, the cycling capital of New York City. This exciting new innovation must be coupled with commitments from policymakers and local communities to make our streets safer for all. I look forward to working with advocates, our partners in government, and, of course, Oonee to continue to facilitate the explosive growth of cycling throughout the five boroughs,” said Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams.
“After having my bike stolen several times, I started Oonee to deliver a practical and affordable solution to the hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers that regularly depend on their bicycles for transport. By making the experience of cycling more convenient and reliable, we hope to encourage even more members of the community to use bicycles. As a lifelong Brooklynite, I am proud and blessed to stand with these community leaders as we deliver a much improved experience to area cyclists,” said Founder and CEO of Oonee Shabazz Stuart.
“As we encourage more New Yorkers to cycle, we need to make sure that it’s not only safe for them to ride on the street, but that it’s safe for them to park bikes. Bike parking must be part of the conversation about transit infrastructure. Oonee has done excellent work on this issue and I congratulate Shabazz Stuart and his team on this exciting occasion. I look forward to more Oonee ribbon cuttings in Brooklyn and around the entire city,” said City Council Speaker Corey Johnson.
“As we create a more sustainable future for New York City, I am thrilled for the opening of Oonee, the city’s first permanent parking station and service hub for bikes and scooters here at Atlantic Terminal. New Yorkers should feel comfortable and confident getting around the city, and Oonee’s next level innovation has stepped outside the box creating parking access for cyclists. The modular kiosk will create parking for commuters in all lanes, a valued commodity on our streets. This is the innovation of the next decade, and I commend Oonee for working to keep New York on-the go,” said City Council Majority Leader Laurie Cumbo.
“A lack of secure bicycle parking is a major barrier to cycling in New York City, second only to unsafe streets. By providing a safe, convenient place to lock up, Oonee helps take down this barrier,” said Transportation Alternatives Executive Director Danny Harris. “As Oonee opens at Atlantic Terminal, we must also expand this and other approaches to secure bicycle parking across the five boroughs.”
“New York’s bike riders need all the help we can get. The city’s installation of bike racks is way down, and bike access to buildings isn’t enforced well. We’re grateful to Oonee for pioneering a great bike parking solution for the city, and to the elected officials supporting it,” said Bike New York Communications Director Jon Orcutt.
Oonee is a modular cycle parking facility that can be built to a range of sizes and configurations. A typical kiosk can house between 20 and 60 bicycles. The kiosks are designed to enhance public spaces through increased lighting, public seating, and street beautification features, among other things. First debuted at the Brooklyn Navy Yard last year, the facilities allow area cyclists to park their bikes or scooters for free or an affordable low monthly rate. In addition, each kiosk is equipped with a smart access control system for easy entry, as well as charging, air pumps for tires, and other amenities.
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