Ride for free at Brooklyn's Bike Library at Shirley Chisholm State Park

Cycling enthusiasts of all ages and skill levels can check out a bike for free from the Bike Library at Shirley Chisholm State Park.

Julio Avila

Oct 15, 2023, 10:53 PM

Updated 337 days ago

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Cycling enthusiasts of all ages and skill levels can check out a bike for free from the Bike Library at Shirley Chisholm State Park. Users such as Arnold Gordon were one of several people on Sunday taking advantage. His preferred bike is bike No. 44.
"Once you find a bike that fits you, your physicality, your lift, you're pretty much wed to it," Gordon said.
There are adult size bicycles and bicycles for children. There are two library locations inside the park – one off the Pennsylvania Avenue entrance and the other is by the Fountain Avenue entrance.
"It was clear to us from day one that we needed bicycles for everyone to enjoy the freedom of being out," Leslie Wright said.
Wright is the New York City regional director for the New York State Parks who oversees the Bike Library. She explained the bikes are rebuilt from donated bikes to save them from waste and can handle the park's hilly terrains. She added users will need a driver's license or other form of identification "to leave as you check out the bike."
Along with the bike, users will also get a helmet and two hours to ride as much as they would like throughout the park.
"There are hills, there are twists, there and just lots of discoveries to make," Wright said.
All the equipment is sanitized upon return.
The Bike Library is set to close for the season on Oct. 29. For those who would like to use the service before closing, the Bike Library is open Thursdays through Sundays from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m., depending on the weather.
The Bike Library also takes unwanted bikes to be refurbished and added onto the Bike Library fleet.