Planned solar-powered bike stations across Bethlehem, PA. Take a bike from any station and leave it at any other. For riders without a car, families, low-income riders, people with disabilities, bus riders and visitors.
The fleet
- About 50% e-bikes, 20% regular bikes, 10% mountain bikes and 5% adaptive, cargo and tandem bikes.
- About 15% e-scooters, at hubs only, where state and local rules allow; may start later.
- Each station's mix follows demand.
The stations
- E-bikes charge on the dock. No cables.
- A 5–8 kW solar canopy and battery power a station most days, with grid backup.
- Natural or reused materials where they meet code.
- Skate gear to borrow, bottle fillers, and restrooms where a park has none.
- An ADA-accessible route to every station, plus a kiosk or phone option.
Where they go
120 planned stations in 12 general areas:
- 104 at the 86 public parks in the service area (two at bigger parks and long trails), if each owner agrees.
- 16 beside planned Bethlehem Connect stops (a separate, independent plan), such as Downtown, Third Street and Farrington Square. Stops on private land wait for the owner's written agreement.
- Places show as general areas only until each landowner agrees in writing.
Riding
- Unlock with the app, a QR code or the kiosk; return to any dock.
- Station full? The app finds an open one.
- Pricing (per ride, monthly and low-income passes, cash at local stores) is set after the pilot.
Privacy and chat
- Private by default: aggregates only (no group under 10), GPS deleted after 30 days, and data never sold. Law enforcement gets records only with a warrant or subpoena.
- Rider app (future): your own miles, ride time and estimated CO2 saved. Opt-in, and only you see it.
- Community chat lives in Project OS, with human moderators and no stranger-to-minor messaging.
Safety and law
- Licensed electricians do all electrical work.
- Batteries and charging meet fire and electrical codes (NFPA 855, NEC, UL 2849, 2271 and 9540), with fire-marshal review at every site.
- Damaged batteries leave service at once. Every battery goes to a certified recycler.
- Pennsylvania e-bike, e-scooter and trail laws are to verify. Our fleet caps assist at 15–18 mph.
Phases
Each phase waits for permissions, safety, ridership and funding.
- Prepare: pick vendors, get landowner letters, confirm the law, publish the privacy policy.
- Pilot: 6–10 stations, about 60–100 bikes: downtown, the SouthSide and two township parks (if each township agrees).
- Bethlehem: grows in waves toward all 120 planned stations.
- Lehigh Valley: Allentown and Easton.
- Small EVs: one-seat, then two-seat, after legal and insurer review.
- Across PA: town by town, each with a local host.
Build and reuse
- Buy proven bike-share technology through an open request for proposals; build only what's missing.
- Another town can copy the method and checklists, then check its own owners, permits and laws.
- Going beyond Pennsylvania is an aim, not a promise.
Roles
- No role is open yet, and none comes with pay, a job or a guarantee. You'd join later through Project OS.
- Roles for anyone, trained helpers and qualified crews each get a one-screen quick guide, with quests and badges. Electrical, battery and repair work stays with qualified crews.
- Long term: a future where money matters much less and people and their work count most. An aim, not a promise.
Money
Cost estimates stay internal until real quotes come in. Possible funding: transportation and clean-air grants, and sponsors. None applied for yet.
For every detail, see the full plan.