We’re pleased to share a few updates with you on our efforts to develop a secure bike and scooter parking network in the New York Region and beyond.
The updates below are split into several categories:
- System Expansion & Scale
- New Designs & Products
- Equity, Impact & Oversight
First, some background…
About Oonee & The Work
Oonee is a Black and Brown owned Brooklyn-based civic startup. As a team of advocates, designers, and policy leaders, we believe that micromobility (bikes, e-bikes, e-scooters, etc) is a crucial part of the 21st-century urban landscape. These vehicles help make cities more livable by reducing traffic congestion and carbon emissions and creating more pleasant streetscapes.
We work with cities and private property owners to implement systemic solutions to the bicycle parking infrastructure gap. Our work includes advocacy, planning, financing infrastructure, designing, deployment and eventually operating the network at no cost to the public.
We are broadly committed to ensuring that our infrastructure is equitable and accessible to all regardless of wealth, language, race, immigration status, or other demographic factors.
The Challenge
As climate change and traffic congestion threaten to upend urban life, many cities have looked to cultivate bicycles and scooters as alternatives to cars and complements to mass transit. Unfortunately, though cycling rates have increased dramatically since the start of this century, the infrastructure gap, particularly when it comes to secure bike parking, continues to prevent widespread adoption.
Fast Facts
- In New York City, 1/4 households have experienced bike theft
- While some cities like London have invested heavily in dispersed secure bike parking, most cities only have a small handful of public secure bike parking spaces
- Lack of secure parking is the second leading reason why people choose not to ride a bike
Our Vision
We’re working to change this dynamic by creating one modern, free, and easy-to-use network of secure bike and scooter parking facilities. By tackling the bike infrastructure gap and making the experience affordable, reliable, and convenient for everybody, we’re building a future where cycling and micromobility account for 25 percent of all trips in cities.
System Expansion & Scale
The first phase of our work involved proving the viability of secure bike parking facilities in New York and New Jersey through four pilot facilities. In 2020, armed with the data generated from these pilots, we began working with local advocates and community leaders to explore pathways for rapid expansion.
Today we’re happy to announce a total of 36 new stations in greater New York and New Jersey. Most of these stations are set to be open by the end of 2022. Once complete, this phase will result in a total of 40 stations, including our existing stations and the previously announced Oonee Hubs in Brooklyn.
This regional network will include:
- Jersey City: We are working with Jersey City officials on the nation’s first municipal secure bike parking system that will eventually consist of 30 stations of various sizes. The system will be powered via sponsorship and advertisement revenue and will be free for the public to use. By issuing the first RFP in the nation for a comprehensive municipal bike parking system, Jersey City has made history and has set an example for other cities to follow.
Port Authority of New York & New Jersey: We are adding three new locations across the region at Port Authority properties, one in New Jersey and two in New York. We’ll have updates on these locations soon.
Williamsburg, Brooklyn: We’re working in partnership with Two Trees to bring 20 secure bike parking spaces to the Williamsburg waterfront area near the intersection of North 1st and River Streets. This location will provide service to the nearby Domino Park as well as Williamsburg.
Woodside, Queens: We’re working in partnership with a Queens-based developer to bring a high-capacity Oonee Hub to Woodside. The Hub will provide service to the nearby 61st St-Woodside (7) subway stop and the local Woodside Long Island Rail Road station stop.
Queens Place Mall: We’re in continuing conversations with Madison International Realty to bring up to 20 secure bike parking spaces to the Queens Place Mall. This station will provide service to the Grand Ave-Newton (M,R) subway stop.
Equitable Commute Project
As a member of the Equitable Commute Project (ECP), we’ve joined forces with a broad coalition of partners, including Transportation Alternatives, Electric Avenue, and New York University, to propose up to 14 Oonee Minis, that will offer a total of 100 secure bike parking spaces dispersed across South Bronx communities.
The free Oonee Mini facilities, which would provide service to low-income and frontline essential workers, would be primarily located within the Soundview, Morrisania, Mott Haven/Melrose, and Hunts Point neighborhoods.
Oonee is currently working with ECP and fellow coalition members to secure grant and sponsorship funding for this project. We’ll have additional updates soon.
National Expansion Efforts
We have developed a number of preliminary partnerships with local governments and organizations across the country to cultivate pilots in cities outside the New York/New Jersey region
Los Angeles: We’ve developed an exploratory partnership with Urban Movement Labs to deploy up to 15 Oonee stations in the Warner Center neighborhood of Los Angeles.
We expect to have more updates on this front soon.
Miami: We’ve developed an exploratory partnership with Miami Dade County for the purposes of exploring a sponsored Oonee pilot network in the region.
Philadelphia: We’re working closely with a number of BIDs in the Philadelphia area to explore ways to launch an Oonee pilot in Philadelphia. These BIDs include the Fishtown BID among others.
We will have more updates to share soon.
Detroit: We’ve formed an exploratory partnership with Michigan Central Mobility Innovation District in order to explore bringing an Oonee pilot to the burgeoning retail and office destination.
New Designs, Technology & Development
We’re committed to pushing the envelope on design and technology for the purpose of creating beautiful, reliable infrastructure that works for communities.
Accordingly, we’re pleased to share the following design and development updates:
Meet the new Oonee Pod. Developed for marquee urban environments, the modular Pod can provide between 20–80 secure parking spaces for bikes and scooters.
The new Pod includes over 100 innovations and features that are specifically designed to improve reliability and functionality for cyclists while also enhancing the streetscape experience for pedestrians and community members.
Leveraging two years of feedback from community leaders and users, we designed the new pod from the ground up to be at the cutting edge in usability and placemaking. Key features include:
- Premium Materials: Tempered glass, aluminum, and other top-quality materials enable the Oonee Pod to fit seamlessly into the most iconic of urban environments.
- Integrated Digital Screens: High-resolution digital screens provide an opportunity for PSAs, way-finding, and sponsored content for public spaces.
- Improved Cladding: More than ten standard cladding options, plus customized offerings ensure the Pod can align with even the most marquee of architectural landscapes.
- Internal Service Center & Storage: The new Pod comes with optional internal storage for helmets, batteries, and other accessories that cyclists may use for trips.
Improved Illumination, Greenery & Seating Options: We’re providing options for better-integrated seating, illumination, and greenery options on the exterior, which will allow for a more human experience at ground level.
The new Pod will undergo design development and engineering over the course of the next six months, with the first batch of prototypes expected in 2022.
The Oonee Lite is a modular, cost-effective, durable solution for lower visibility areas that require medium density secure bike parking options. Examples of these spaces include under viaducts, traffic breezeways, or industrial districts where durability, cost and flexibility are the most important considerations.
The Oonee Lite is intentionally designed to be simple; with minimal power requirements and moving parts.
Key Features include:
Simplified Construction: The Oonee Lite’s simplified design, hardware, and power systems enable it to operate with minimal maintenance and support. This simplified design format also enables each Oonee Lite to be installed in less than a day.
Placemaking Features: The Oonee Lite includes rooftop and facade greenery that can provide placemaking enhancements to the surrounding streetscape.
Cost-Effective Design: The simplified cost structure of the Oonee Lite is ideal for communities that want to provide direct financing for secure bike parking infrastructure, but lack access to locations that can generate revenue via advertising and sponsorship.
Durable: The Oonee Lite is designed with extra-durable components for increased longevity and minimal maintenance.
Oonee + Superpedestrian Mobility Hub
We’re happy to announce that we’re partnering with Superpedestrian, one of the key innovators in the shared scooter market. We’ll be working together to present a vision for the integration of infrastructure that meets the needs of both shared & personal micro-mobility. We’ll have more soon!
Oonee Mini
The development of New York’s first curbside bike parking unit has continued throughout the course of the year. The first two prototypes are scheduled to arrive in Brooklyn, from France, in late September.
Beta testing and focus group feedback sessions will be held at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. The units will be deployed for 1–2 month pilots at a series of locations in the New York area during the fall, winter, and spring months. We’re extremely grateful for the support of Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams’s Office in helping to identify and secure suitable locations. We’ll have updates on these locations soon.
The Oonee App & Information Technology
We’re building a nimble and powerful digital ecosystem to pair with Oonee hardware. This digital mainframe will provide a seamless and unparalleled transportation experience for cyclists that use the network, and for the growing number of small businesses that serve the riding community.
First, we are pleased to announce that Ryan Rzepecki has joined Oonee as an investor and a product development advisor. As the former founder and CEO of JUMP, Ryan brings a vast array of experience and knowledge, especially when it comes to pairing mobility infrastructure and hardware. In addition to founding JUMP, Ryan has worked at the New York City Department of Transportation and has his Master's degree in Urban Planning and Sustainable Development.
We’re delighted to welcome one of the industry’s pioneers to the Oonee family. His perspective will play a critical role in ensuring that Oonee can effectively deliver a top-flight user experience to the growing number of bike and scooter riders in American cities.
The Oonee App & Marketplace
We are building a nimble and convenient mobile app that will enable cyclists to seamlessly identify the locations of bike parking stations while also connecting with other convenient goods, services, and essentials such as ownership verification, bike sales, rentals, and repairs. We’ll work with local vendors and small businesses to provide these services, thus strengthening the local bike shop economy that is so essential to the cycling and micromobility ecosystem.
Key Features
- Easy registration
- Ability to quickly locate secure bike parking stations
- Seamless unlocking
- Access to a marketplace that connects to local bike shops, insurance providers, and other vendors
Ultimately, cyclists will be able to have these services delivered directly to an Oonee station (while their bike or scooter is parked), at home, or a third-party site such as a local bike shop or service station. Ultimately, this will vastly increase the ease and flexibility of the cycling experience for those within the Oonee service area by streamlining the everyday experience of owning and using a bicycle or scooter.
Oonee Net
A streamlined, easy-to-use dashboard will give cities and property owners a management window into the local bike parking network, operation status, and other performance metrics. Powered by our proprietary IoT system, the dashboard will help transportation planners and local leaders determine network efficacy, modality growth, and where there might be opportunities for expansion.
This dashboard will also allow for greater public transparency and public accountability.
Equity, Impact & Oversight
As a Black and Brown-owned company, we’re committed to developing an accessible, egalitarian, and open transportation system that tangibly improves the lives of all community members regardless of race or class.
To ensure that we always remain true to this mission, we’re creating an independent Advocacy Council that will play a strong oversight role in our expansion, scale, and product development efforts. This Council, which will be composed of advocates and community members, will be codified in our RFP responses and our contracts with communities.
We are pleased to announce the first co-chairs of the Advocacy Council will be Janette Sadik-Khan and Doug Gordon.
One of the leading voices on urban transportation policy, Janette Sadik-Khan is internationally respected for her transformative redesigns of New York City streets and rapid-implementation strategies that are being replicated today in cities around the world. She was Commissioner of the New York City Department of Transportation from 2007–2013 under Mayor Michael Bloomberg, leading one of the most sweeping revitalizations of the city’s streets in a half-century. She currently advises mayors of cities around the world as a principal at Bloomberg Associates.
Doug Gordon is a writer, TV producer, leading advocate in the livable streets movement. He has written for The New Republic, Salon, Curbed, The New York Daily News, and Streetsblog. He is frequently quoted in the press about New York’s livable streets movement and has appeared on NY1’s Inside CityHall, NowThis News, and an upcoming series for Vox Media on the future of cities. He’s also one-third of the hosting team behind the popular podcast The War on Cars.
Pilot Statistics
We are pleased to share the demographic and usage data from our pilots in New York and New Jersey. All data is from our 2020 user survey, with the exception of Water-Whitehall, which was forced to close in 2019. Water-Whitehall leverages data from our 2019 user survey. We collected responses from over 125 users.
Diversity and Satisfaction Highlights
- 56 percent of users identify as non-white
- 30 percent of users earn below $50,000 per year, 14% earn below $24,000
- 97% feel that their bike is secure or very secure inside Oonee
- 99% of users surveyed are either very satisfied or satisfied with their Oonee experience
Systemwide data
