ValleyBike Share Program Paused While Participating Communities Seek New Supplier

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The eight Pioneer Valley communities, including UMass Amherst, which participate in the electric bicycle-sharing program ValleyBike announced on May 25 that they would split with their bicycle supplier and seek a new vendor. The bicycles, which have been available to rent out from docking stations, were removed from the streets and from campus earlier this spring. Their supplier, Bewegen, plans to file for bankruptcy in its home country of Canada, the Northampton mayor’s office said in a statement.

“We’re very interested in getting the program back in operation," says Shane Conklin, associate vice chancellor of facilities and campus services. “Some of our stations have the highest use in the overall program so we know the campus community has benefited from the program.”