Madison Bike Share Gains Momentum

Visitors to Madison are taking advantage of the opportunity to explore the town from the seat of a bicycle through the Madison Bike Share— a collaboration between the town, Madison Chamber of Commerce, Madison Beach Hotel, Scranton Seahorse Inn, Tidewater Inn, and Vista Vocational & Life Skills Center.

Michael Hafford of Scranton Seahorse Inn, one of the three bike rental locations, said news of the program—which launched in May— has brought out-of-town visitors to his doorstep.

“Two women from Fairfield came down and spent the day after reading about the bike share in the Connecticut Post,” Hafford said. “They weren’t here to go to the beach. They wanted to ride bikes downtown.”

These visitors, Hafford said, were memorable because they were not guests at the inn. Instead, they came to town specifically for the bike share.

“It was a very pleasant surprise,” he said. “They showed up at 10 a.m. and were out all day until at least 6 p.m. They loved it and they loved Madison.”

Many guests of the inn have also found the bike share appealing, Hafford said. Among those who have toured the town on two wheels during their stay is a family of three visiting from Sweden.

But tourists and out-of-towners aren’t the only ones putting the program to good use. For residents Nancy and Jack Siedlecki, the bike share provided the perfect opportunity for a family reunion.

In early July, the Siedleckis brought their five visiting cousins to Tidewater Inn and rented bikes for the day. Together, the group pedaled to Meig’s Point and enjoyed Hammonasset Beach up close.

“I read about (the bike share) in The Source and thought it was a great idea,” Nancy said. “The price was very reasonable and we all had a wonderful time.”

The Madison Bike Share will run through October. The cost to rent a bicycle is $10 for 24 hours. Helmets and locks are also provided. In addition to Scranton Seahorse Inn and Tidewater Inn, bikes are available for rental at Madison Beach Hotel.

The Madison Bike Share creates employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities in Vista’s programs. All bikes are serviced at least once a week by a Vista student employee.

Based in Madison and Westbrook, CT, Vista Vocational & Life Skills Center is a 501©3 nonprofit organization. Vista’s mission is to provide services and resources to assist individuals with disabilities achieve personal success.
For more information about Vista, please visit www.vistavocational.org