Create a Healthier Niagara Falls Collaborative (CHNFC) is thrilled to announce the launch of its E-Bike Library. The launch kick-off event, 4 PM, on Friday, July 14 at CHNFC's office at 1702 Pine Ave, Niagara Falls, NY 14301, will be an exciting celebration of sustainable transportation and community engagement.
The public is invited to a cook-out, with music by DJ Liberty and food by Goofy's Fried Dough Truck. Folks will be permitted to try out pedal-assist e-bikes.
“The E-Bike Library presents an incredible opportunity for us to demonstrate the seamless integration of movement into people's daily or weekly routines. ” said Zoë Flynn, Community Ambassador for CHNFC. “Whether they would like to explore trails on the weekends, commute to work with ease, or simply enjoy a quick trip to the store, e-bikes offer the perfect solution.”
CHNFC's office at 1702 Pine Avenue, Suite 104, will serve as the central hub for healthy living. One of the programs is the new E-Bike Library, where community members can access information about the program, sign up for the orientation course, and reserve pedal-assist e-bikes. The location was selected for its accessibility and convenience to ensure that all residents can easily participate in this transformative initiative.
This launch event marks a significant milestone in the journey towards a greener and healthier Niagara Falls, as well as the first partner to formally launch an e-bike library through the WNY E-Bike Library initiative. The initiative, facilitated by Shared Mobility Inc., and made possible by the generous support from Independent Health and Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Legacy Funds, is an effort to steadily refurbish and repair a large collection of used pedal-assist e-bikes and donate them to community-based organizations across Western New York who want to start their own E-Bike Library program. Much like a public library where people can borrow books, E-Bike Libraries are a place where folks can borrow pedal-assist e-bikes free of charge. Each community-based organization is responsible for administrating and programming their library.
“As a company deeply rooted in and committed to Western New York, we know that community partnerships and engagement are cornerstones of building healthy communities, which is why we are thrilled to help bring this e-bike program to Niagara Falls,” said Kathy Glieco, vice president, marketing, for Independent Health. “The health advantages to pedal-assist e-bikes, from ‘green’ transportation to the fitness benefits, especially for those who may not be completely able to ride a regular bike, complements our mission to create a culture of health in this community.”
This initiative is the result of work by CHNFC and East Side Bike Club, another community based organization based in Buffalo’s east side. SMI has been partnering with the two organizations for the past two years piloting software, hardware and procedures that facilitate an e-bike library.
“All of this got started when Uber was exiting the bikeshare space and figuring how to responsibly empty their warehouses of tens of thousands of pedal-assist ebikes,” said Marli Parish, E-Bike Program Coordinator for SMI. “We’re humbled to receive a few thousand and find a means of repurposing the devices as a free mobility solution for those in need.”
For more information about the E-Bike Library, please visit
About Create a Healthier Niagara Falls Collaborative
The Create a Healthier Niagara Falls Collaborative gives opportunities to residents of Niagara Falls to become change agents. The Collaborative is deeply engaged in the community, provides tools and support to residents, and partners with local businesses, non-profit organizations and faith communities to positively impact the health and well-being of the City of Niagara Falls and its residents.
About Independent Health
Independent Health, a not-for-profit health plan headquartered in Buffalo, New York, serves nearly 400,000 members and provides innovative health care products and benefits designed to engage consumers in their health and well-being. Established in 1980, our comprehensive portfolio of progressive products include HMO, POS, PPO and EPO products, Medicare and Medicaid plans, traditional indemnity insurance, individual and small group Exchange products, consumer-directed plans and health savings accounts, plus coverage for self-funded employers. Our subsidiaries and affiliate companies include pharmacy benefit management, specialty pharmacy and the Independent Health Foundation. The company has been recognized nationally for its award winning customer service, dedication to quality health care and unmatched relationships with physicians and providers. To learn more, go to www.independenthealth.com.
About Shared Mobility
Shared Mobility Inc. (SMI) of Buffalo, New York is a transportation solutions nonprofit that focuses on cutting-edge technology and best practices to build mobility systems that serve disadvantaged communities in small and mid-sized markets. These communities are not traditional markets for shared mobility operators, and SMI’s work often requires tailoring mobility solutions to fit the needs of each area. Throughout its 10 years of experience, SMI has worked across the shared mobility spectrum in the fundraising, deployment, growth, and evaluation of shared transportation systems. This includes
bikesharing, carsharing, volunteer transportation, vanpooling, and transportation demand management programs. It seeks to apply the same social-equity focused mindset to its nationwide portfolio of projects.