Comsewogue Public Library to Roll Out Bike Borrow Program

                 Pictured left to right: Comsewogue Public Library Director Debbie Engelhardt, Susan Guerin, Claudia Friszell, and Alex Blend

                SUFFOLK COUNTY, NEW YORK – September 13, 2024 - Comsewogue Public Library will become the first library in Suffolk County, NY to lend bicycles to library patrons later this month. This initiative is a joint effort between the Comsewogue Public Library, Brookhaven Town Councilman Jonathan Kornreich, and the Long Island Bicycle Cooperative. The Long Island Bicycle Cooperative is a nonprofit that rehabs and donates broken or discarded bikes. They have two locations on Long Island, in St. James and in New Hyde Park.

The Bike Borrow Program was introduced by the New York State Department of Transportation’s Statewide Mobility Services Program which provides planning resources and technical assistance throughout New York State. They researched areas in Nassau and Suffolk County to identify the right communities in which to launch the Bike Borrow Program. The Comsewogue Public Library, located in Port Jefferson Station is identified as a disadvantaged community with a substantial concentration of multi-family homes and transportation needs. Although there is a Long Island Railroad station in town, there is not a robust bus network, making this community a great place to offer The Bike Borrow Program.

It comes as no surprise that the Comsewogue Public Library are early adopters of a program that centers around equity, job access, and transportation aide. Library Director Debbie Engelhardt and Assistant Director Andrea Malchiodi have been on the forefront of sustainable library practices, achieving the designation as a certified sustainable library in January 2022 by the Sustainable Libraries Initiative. This bicycle borrow program allows adults 18 years and older with a valid Comsewouge Public Library card to borrow one bicycle free of charge for up to two weeks. Borrowers must sign a liability waiver and are encouraged to wear a helmet when operating a bicycle but must supply their own helmet. The Long Island Bicycle Cooperative will maintain the bicycles and take care of any necessary repairs, eliminating that concern to the library staff. The program is offered with hopes that cycling will become a viable transportation alternative, thus improving air quality. Library Director Debbie Engelhardt shared this comment:

“Comsewogue Public Library is pleased to offer a new initiative coming this fall. The Bike Borrow Program will help fill transportation needs and lets residents engage in cycling for recreation and health. This program for adult members of the Library is equitable, sustainable, and made possible through local and regional partnerships.”

Comsewogue Public Library’s Bike Borrow Program provides library patrons the opportunity to check out a bike for up to two weeks without a fee to be used for transportation, recreation, or to run errands for their families. There are four refurbished adult bicycles available to loan, three hybrid bicycles (step-through) and one women’s bicycle. This program will go live in early October.