Bike-Shares Caution

We find ourselves agreeing with Montauk business owners who object to a bike-share company that would like to set up shop there, so to speak. They say the start-up would eat into their rentals, which in at least one case, the Montauk Cycle Company, could be as much as a third of its revenue.

Initially, the East Hampton Town Board seemed interested in PedalShare’s pitch. However, brick and mortar retailers and others now say not so fast.

PedalShare is expected to install several of its smartphone-activated bike racks in East Hampton Village; the company already has stations in Southampton Village. But this is no reason to take it to Montauk. The town board may be all for bicycling, but the proposal has several problems.

Aside from putting financial pressure on existing bicycle rentals, it should be out of the question for the town board to give up one more inch of public space in downtown Montauk. Already any number of motels have cordoned off the sides of the roads, warning that parking is for guests only. Moreover, the town board handed over a portion of a public lot for a Tesla car-charging station, essentially making it off limits for the owners of nonelectric vehicles. It might be noted that Tesla’s County Road 39 station in Southampton is on a privately-owned commercial site. No more easy giveaways to private enterprise, we say.

If the board wants to promote alternative ways of getting around Montauk, one way to do so is to take back control of the roadways. A first step would be to mark out ample bike lanes — and, heaven forfend — places where people on foot can safely get around.

Downtown Montauk is chaotic enough as it is. Let’s try to impose a little order before adding anything more.