QUEENS — The new Citi Bike Share program should be installed in more Queens neighborhoods, two local politicians said Tuesday.
Long Island City is the only section of the borough that's currently included in the plan. State Sen. Michael Gianaris and City Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer said the Department of Transportation should bring the bike shares to Astoria, Woodside and Sunnyside, too.
"I hope that the program will be quickly expanded to more western Queens neighborhoods," Gianaris said in a statement.
The politicians said transportation advocates have been working to make the area "more bike-friendly," citing the planned Queens East River and North Shore Greenway, which added new bike lanes in Astoria last fall.
"An active bike share presence would be the perfect way to build on recent developments that have helped make this area one of the most bike-friendly in the city,” Gianaris said, calling for a "firm date" for when more neighborhoods will be included in the plan.
A spokesman for the DOT said the initial bike share stations were selected because they are "the densest contiguous parts of the city that would generate the most use of the bikes."
But the spokesman added that "there will be a chance to expand in the future based on demand and resources."
The first Citi Bike locations will begin operating next month. The Long Island City bike share stations are set to launch in September, after having been delayed by damage during Hurricane Sandy.
A map of the areas included in the current plan can be found here.
