PRESS RELEASE

Holyoke, along with Amherst, Chicopee, Easthampton, Northampton, South Hadley, Springfield, and West Springfield, as well as the University of Massachusetts and the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission contracted with Bewegen Technologies to bring Bike Share to the region. ValleyBike Share is designed to promote short bike trips within core communities, where clusters of large employers, colleges, shopping, tourist destinations and residents can readily be connected.

In recent weeks, the city’s popular bike share initiative has been undermined by vandalism. The city has received reports of four bikes thrown into a canal; bikes not returned at the appropriate time and left abandoned; bikes permanently damaged — a loss of $1,200 per bike; bikes left in remote locations; fake accounts being created to purchase the usage of bikes, and batteries being removed from bikes and sold.

The Holyoke Planning & Economic Development Office stated in a press release that, “As a community we must support and protect the ValleyBike Share Program. Many residents use these bikes for transportation to and from work and for recreation. ValleyBike is a city asset that provides transportation to visitors and residents at an affordable rate. This healthy option for transportation is available only if we maintain and protect this asset.”

The city’s Planning & Economic Development Office is asking the public to report incidents of vandalism to the Holyoke Police Department (413) 322-6999. For retrieval when an abandoned bike is found, notify Erick Joseph at erick.joseph@bewegen.com. The bikes are city-owned, and it is illegal to misuse them. The Holyoke Police are aware of the situation and will take action against those committing these crimes.