Simsbury Free Bike to Launch Later This Month

Here’s the scenario: you have friends visiting and you only have two bikes and you need four. You want to take your friends on the bike trail. What do to?

Well, as of this month, the answer is the Simsbury Free Bike program.

The program is starting with 10 bikes and one location —  at 836 Hopmeadow Street. The bikes will be out front, locked. You go inside to the courtesy desk and say you would like to use bike number 7 and hand over $10 (you get it back), sign a waiver and provide a copy of your license or some identification. You are provided a helmet and the bike lock combination. You have up to 24 hours to use the bike. Once you bring the bike back, you get your money back.

The program is modeled after programs around the country — they are all over the world, in fact, and in Connecticut as well.

The future of the program depends on how the pilot goes. Organizers know bikes may be lost, but the idea of providing people a way to travel the bike trail or get around town is what matters.

The bikes are donated and refurbished by the and are all painted blue with the Simsbury Free Bike logo. The bikes are all general use and have flat handlebars. The program is for those 18 years old and up, and there are various sized bikes. All the bikes have baskets and locks. You do not have to be from Simsbury to take advantage of the program.

Tom Roy, the town’s director of public works, came up with the idea. He said initially there were concerns with insurance and such, but there happened to be another bike group forming in town for adaptive cycling (that story is coming to the site soon) that had non-profit status and the needed insurance. It was easier to partner with them.

The program is slated to start some time between July 10-15.

“We want everybody to get used to it this summer,” said Roy.

The program is still seeking volunteers. Volunteers will be trained in a variety of tasks; one could be helping to maintain the bikes.

“As the first Bike Friendly Community in Connecticut, we are always looking to partner with others to improve our recreational opportunities to our residents, business owners and visitors. We are grateful to the dedicated volunteers who want to provide the opportunity for biking our beautiful greenway to others,” said First Selectman Mary Glassman of the program. 

Helping to launch this program is bike advocate Larry Linonis, who is in bike gear so often people do not recognize him without his helmet, and two interns, Carly Reuther and Giselle Geno.

The program will run May 1 to November 1 and will be open to anyone.

“There are a lot of people who don’t own bikes,” said Roy.

Steve Mitchell, a local businessman who is also a champion of bicycling in Simsbury, said this type of transportation program helps increase tourism, which is an economic benefit for the town.

He said he is proud that the community has taken a leadership role in biking and integrating biking into the transportation model and is looking forward to more progress.

“We’re just warming up,” said Mitchell.

Linonis, who has been a member of the Farmington Valley Trails Council a half dozen years, has witnessed the growth of the council and trail use in recent years.

“The growth has been phenomenal,” said Linonis, who rides up to 7,000 miles year.

He said the trail is especially popular on the weekend. A recently painted separation stripe down the middle of the trail in town for two miles has proved a good idea, as it helps people remember the trail is for walkers, bikers, and those traveling at higher speeds on their bikes.

For those seeking more information or who want to volunteer, contact Linonis at larrylinonis@yahoo.com.