Bike Sharing Rides into Wilkes-Barre
Joe Petrucci |
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Gus Genetti, the 72 year-old Northeastern PA hotelier, has been in the business for nearly half a century, and is also a pilot and military veteran. But the slew of tourists on yellow bicycles he saw on trips to Portland and Amsterdam in recent years truly inspired him.
The feeling was so strong that Genetti brought the idea to life in Luzerne County, where the kickoff of
Wilkes-Barre BikeShare was celebrated on Wednesday at the Millennium Circle Portal at
Riverfront Park, one of the city's new additions that are perfectly suited for cyclists.
Residents and visitors in Wilkes-Barre are now able to choose from 18 specialized Globe 4 3-speed bikes at Genetti's flagship
Genetti Hotel and Conference Center at 77 East Market St. in the city's downtown. Riders must be 18 years old (or at least 16 and accompanied by an adult), provide a valid drivers license or state identification and follow bike safety regulations.
"In addition to this program being a great way to see our community, it promotes th ehealth and wellness which is key to our community," says Genetti in a news release. "Putting this together was a great team effort."
BikeShare was made possible by the Rotary Club of Wilkes-Barre and The Luzerne Foundation. For more information, call 570-820-0980 or email
here.
Joe Petrucci is managing editor of Keystone Edge. Send feedback here.