Not So Fast With Bike Share, Montaukers Tell Town Board

By Stephen J. Kotz

A handful of Montauk residents, including business owners, urged the East Hampton Town Board on Tuesday to put the brakes on a proposal by Pedal Share to extend its bicycle-sharing business to Montauk this year.

Board members, who a week ago lauded the idea as a good way to reduce emissions and get more bicycles on the road, were quick to say that they did not want to harm local business owners by letting the company set up shop in Montauk.

That would likely be the case, said Chris Briand, the owner of the Montauk Cycle Company, which occupies the former Suffolk County National Bank building at the docks.

“My bike shop has been open nine months,” he said. “The rental business is a big part of it. It’s more than a third of my business.”

He added that he counts on rentals to bring customers into his store for purchases and maintenance work.

“It’s tough out here, especially in the winter,” he said. “I’m staying open now when I shouldn’t be. I’m losing money now.”

Chris Pfund, who closed his own Main Street bike shop last year, said rentals had become the main thrust of his business. “Motels were pretty much giving the bikes for free,” he said. “That’s what took me out.”

He said he feared the availability of low-priced rentals throughout Montauk could have a similar effect on the business of his former employee, Mr. Briand.

Kathleen Kirkwood also appeared before the board and asked for time so that Montauk businesses could form their own bike-sharing operation.

“We are not against the idea of lowering emissions as a priority,” she said, adding that bicycles were a great way to do that.

She pitched an idea that would have local shops develop their own app that would allow customers to text or call to set up a rental. “You’d get the humanity back by someone picking up the phone,” she said.

Board members were quick to say they didn’t want to do anything that would harm local businesses.

Councilwoman Sylvia Overby said the goal was to get more people on bicycles. She said as soon as last week’s presentation by Chris Dimon of Pedal Share was over, she started to get calls from concerned residents. “This was just a presentation,” she said. “We haven’t signed any contract or lease.”

Councilman Jeff Bragman said he had been enthusiastic about the proposal. “It’s hard not to be enthusiastic over more bikes,” he said. It was important that the discussion had been broadened, he said, so the board could hear from established businesses and consider what additional steps, from a planning perspective, need to be taken.

Supervisor Peter Van Scoyoc also said the board did not want to undermine local businesses.

“We understand how hard it is for local businesses that are renting high-priced real estate,” he said. “We are going to listen carefully to what our local businesspeople say.”

Pedal Share, a Southampton company owned by Mr. Dimon and a partner, Patrick O’Donoghue, has asked permission to install five bike racks at the Montauk train station and beaches that would be stocked with a total of 20 bicycles, which could be rented for the hour or the day.

The company operates in Southampton Village, Westhampton Beach and Quogue, and has reached an agreement to rent bikes in East Hampton Village this summer.