GOBike Buffalo continues its efforts to make our streets safer and more accessible.

GOBike Buffalo, which moved its headquarters from 98 Colvin Street to 131 Broadway in April of last year, is a bustling hub of activity and collaboration. Rows of bikes, equipment and tools line the store’s walls and shelves. Up a spiral staircase in the GOBike offices, 12 full-time employees serve the various functions of both stores. Mechanics, engineers and program coordinators work together with a common goal in mind: a safer, more accessible transportation network for all Buffalons.

The organization was founded in 2010 by Justin Booth and a small team of organizers. Starting as a form of ride sharing, similar to the Ready Bike stands we see around the city, GOBike Buffalo quickly evolved into a broader cycling resource. Over the years, the team has grown, as has its ability to meet the needs of Buffalo commuters.

Every Wednesday and Saturday, GOBike opens its doors to all cyclists in need of mechanical care, technical advice and community engagement. The Youth Recycle-a-Bicycle program and Youth Bike Giveaway, in addition to the various pop-up mobile repair tents set up around the city, highlight GOBike’s genuine desire to not only serve cyclists, but also help them acquire the skills needed to cycle the streets of Buffalo sustainably and safely. Free access to tools and mechanics is essential for riders who would otherwise consider their bikes finished with a snap of the chain or a slap of a tire.

“It’s all about accessibility and mobility,” Adam Lanni, GOBike Buffalo community workshop director, said of the program. “Everyone needs to get somewhere. At the store, at school, at work. We’re just trying to make this process more accessible. »

98 Colvin Street remains the donation collection center and is open every Tuesday from 5pm to 8pm. Fleets of donated, repaired and recycled bikes fill the old building and are regularly taken back into the community for use on the road.

The uphill battle faced by GOBike Buffalo employees is to challenge an automobile-centric city and culture by illustrating the undeniable needs of those without vehicles. “Roads are built for speed,” said Kevin Heffernan, communications director for the organization, when discussing the issue of traffic collisions and fatalities in Erie County.

“The height and speed of cars, their visibility, and the wariness or lack thereof of pedestrians and cyclists are just some of the factors that come into play.” So, as a city, how can we can we counter these modes of transport which often collide? According to GOBike Buffalo, we start by “creating road and intersection designs that automatically slow drivers down and encourage them to pay attention.” »

The GOBike Buffalo planning department is made up of several dedicated people, including Jim Jones, a licensed traffic engineer who helps structure the safety zones.

The initial work has been simple but effective on sections of Buffalo streets that see high levels of vehicle and bicycle traffic. “Bumps” at corners of intersections, along with brightly painted bike lanes, are used to reduce speed and driver visibility. “Sharrow” signs painted on asphalt and erected on traffic poles help signal to road users that the road they are on is shared. Changes like these bring intersections and roads closer to complete streets. “The paint on the ground doesn’t stop cars from using it, but it helps and it’s a start,” Kevin said. These additions are followed by detailed surveys of neighborhood response, all with the goal of increasing the level of separation between cars, bikes and pedestrians.

The final GOBike Buffalo analysis is then forwarded to the city, where it is studied for long-term application. “It complicates things because we often work on streets that are in a state of disrepair,” Kevin said.

Snow in the winter and potholes in the summer, combined with the lack of drunk driving, speeding and dangerous parking tickets from Buffalo police, require more sustainably built roads and accountability for dangerously neglected intersections.

In 2022, the Buffalo Common Council detailed the violation of parking in a bike lane, but despite the law, according to the city’s public data portal, no tickets for obstructing a bike lane have been issued in the past two years from the entry into force of the law.

No tickets for obstructing a bicycle path have been issued during the two years the law has been in force.

The intersection of Parkside and Linden is a concrete example of GOBike Buffalo’s impact on public roadways. Dubbed “Western New York’s first protected intersection,” the 2023 protected crosswalk project has been a resounding success, with resident support highlighted in GOBike’s post-implementation report released in October of last year.

“We’ve incorporated into the planning process everything we know about beautiful spaces that are also safe for children, seniors, and bike and car commuters. This not only results in a safer city, but also a stronger, better-connected city.”

This community-influenced organization is committed to evolving the conversation around street and transportation infrastructure, particularly as it correlates to public health and well-being. 30% of Buffalo drivers, each time they get behind the wheel, drive no more than a mile. Drawing on community feedback from surveys and conversations, GOBike believes that “many community members would ride bikes if they could, if they had access to a bike, or if they felt safe “. All GOBike Buffalo members own a vehicle. “We are not looking to eradicate cars,” said Kevin, “we are looking to promote other realistic and sustainable options.”

There are many opportunities to get involved in Buffalo’s cycling community. On July 21, just like last year and the year before, the Buffalo Skyway will close its doors to make way for an enthusiastic crowd on wheels. The 10th annual SkyRide is expected to have the largest turnout yet, launching from the Outer Harbor and lasting an entire morning. Families and solo riders are invited to take rides on the North and South Skyways, which offer exciting views of downtown Buffalo. The post-ride party will include concessions and high-energy sets from longtime Buffalo Bills DJ Milk.

If you’re looking to service your bike or learn more about GOBike Buffalo’s current projects, stop by Broadway, where GOBike staff continues their efforts to raise awareness and effect change in our city.