Lower Manhattan Pilots New York City’s First Secure Bike Parking Pod Oonee
The Alliance for Downtown New York has partnered with Brooklyn-based Oonee to bring New York City's first secure bike pod to the Water-Whitehall Plaza in Lower Manhattan.
The Oonee is a smart, modular bike pod that can be custom-built to meet the needs of both cyclists and pedestrians in varied environments. The Water-Whitehall installation is the first in what is hoped to grow to a city-wide network of pods. It features secure storage for 20 bicycles as well as a green roof and bench seating along the exterior. Spaces in the pod are reserved through membership which costs $4.99/month.
"Our partnership with Oonee allows us to offer a low-cost solution to answer one of our biking community's biggest concerns – bike security," said Downtown Alliance President Jessica Lappin. "We hope the success of this pilot program will encourage other Oonee pods to pop up across the city and have a positive impact on the lives of New Yorkers city-wide. Lower Manhattan has a long history of innovation and we continue to honor that through the exploration of new concepts like the Oonee bike pod."
"As cycling becomes a mainstream mode of transportation in the city, New Yorkers need secure and affordable options for bike parking," said Shabazz Stuart, co-founder and CEO of Oonee. "Oonee provides this service through its smart, modular pod that comes paired with public space amenities like seating, ambient lighting and greenery. Downtown is just the beginning. We're excited to work with public and private property owners to expand this much-needed transportation option throughout the five boroughs."
Cyclists can register online at www.ooneepod.com, with the first month free and monthly membership at just $4.99 per month. During off-peak times, Oonee also offers day passes for $1 and weekly passes for $2.50.
For photos of the launch event, visit: https://flic.kr/s/aHskGL9Qjr
About Oonee
Oonee is a Brooklyn-based startup that is building the next generation of infrastructure for bikes and scooters. Founded by Shabazz Stuart and Manuel Mansylla, the company designs, deploys and operates a network of smart, modular pods that offer secure parking to cyclists, as well as a range of amenities designed to enliven public spaces. Oonee's innovative business model, which focuses on sponsorship and convenience services, keeps the price for bike parking extremely low.