Category: GO BNMC

BNMC and Partners Launch E-Bike Pilot in Buffalo

by Maria Morrealein Biking, Buffalo, Environment, GO BNMC

BNMC frequently serves as a living laboratory for new and innovative programs in Buffalo. For the summer of 2021, we are delighted to partner with Shared Mobility, Inc. to offer shared e-bikes this summer. E-bikes will be stationed at a number of locations around Buffalo, including at the corner of Ellicott and North Oak/Virgina Streets on the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus. Other locations around the City include Seneca One, and Push Buffalo’s School 77. East Side Bike Club will lead an E-Bike Library with group rides and a variety of programming.
Participation in this program is FREE! To learn more about how to get involved, visit Shared Mobility here.

Welcome to National Bike Month

by Maria Morrealein Biking, Buffalo, Environment, GO BNMC, Infrastructure

By Jamie Hamann-Burney
May is National Bike Month, and BNMC is as committed as ever to helping make bicycling a fun, safe, and healthy way to get around our district.  We continue to work with our partners to enhance our bicycling infrastructure on the campus and we’ll again be celebrating National Bike to Work Day on Friday, May 21st with our first-ever BNMC Open Streets Event! Here’s some more details:

BNMC Open Streets

Being able to enjoy the outdoors – walking, exercising, getting fresh air – is an important part of living a healthy, hwp-contenty life.  With limited park space in our area, and the need to still stay safely socially distant from one another, we’re rethinking how we use our streets.   We will be closing Washington Street between Carlton and High Streets to traffic and we will be using the street for healthy living activities throughout the day, starting off with a Bike to Work Day breakfast for anyone who rides their bike to the event. More details about the event and how to register are here.

Bicycle Programs:

This year, we’re also continuing to add more bicycle perks for members of our community:

  • Free annual REDDY Bikeshare memberships for employees and neighbors and a campus-wide free parking zone;
  • Exploring micro-mobility options on campus in collaboration with Shared Mobility, Inc.
  • Indoor, member-only bicycle parking in collaboration with GObike as well as numerous other bike parking racks throughout the campus;
  • A Bicycle Fix-It Station at the corner of Ellicott and Virginia Streets;
  • Free memberships for our Green Commuter Club which provides prizes and a Guaranteed Ride Home Program to employees who walk, bike, take transit, or carpool to work. To learn more and sign up for our programs, click here.

Streetscape Projects:

The next few years will be transformational for our shared campus.  We continue to work with the City of Buffalo on creating new bicycle infrastructure and amenities through new streetscape projects.  Currently, Virginia Street between Main and Ellicott is being reconstructed to include wider sidewalks and bicycle lanes (mid-block pedestrian crossings will also be added on Washington Street and Ellicott Street as part of the same project); and in 2022, the City will start construction on the Middle Main Street Project, which will feature protected bicycle lanes from at least Goodell to Ferry Streets. Best Street is also being repaved this year and that project will include new bicycle lanes as identified in the City’s Bicycle Master Plan.

BNMC Offers Biking Perks for Campus Employees

by BNMCin Employees, GO BNMC, Sustainability, Transportation

Free Reddy Bikeshare Memberships for Frontline Employees

Employees who work on the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus can redeem a FREE annual pass to Reddy Bikeshare, courtesy of GOBNMC. New Reddy Bikeshare members can start by registering today at this link:  Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus Employee Annual Pass.

For returning members, please email info@reddybikeshare.com to request to be re-subscribed for free. Provide your work email address as well as your account number and a Reddy Bikeshare representative will confirm your new subscription within 24 hours.

 

DETAILS

Members pay an additional $0.01/ minute to ride and must be 18 years of age or older. Employees must sign up using their work email address and a have a valid debit or credit card. Please note that parking fees and fines may still occur. The parking fee is $2.00 to end your trip anywhere outside of a Reddy Bikeshare station or free parking zone. End your trip at any other Reddy Bikeshare station at no extra cost.

The pass will allow you access to any one of 385 bikes in Buffalo and Niagara Falls, 24/7, April – mid November.

Pro Tips: 

  • Download the Social Bicycles wp-content and use it to locate bikes, or simply walk up to one and enter your account number and PIN. Unlock the bike, place the U-lock in the holster and ride! You can lock the bike to any other Reddy station, public bike rack, or secure public infrastructure at the end of your trip.
  • The seat adjusts to your height, and there are three gears on your right handle and a bell on your left, use them!
  • Press the “HOLD” button on the bike’s keypad before locking the bike in order to keep your bike reserved while you make stops along your trip.
  • Find Bounty Bikes to accrue credit. When you find a Reddy bike outside of a station, bring it back to a station for us and receive $1.00 in riding credit.

COVID-19 Update

Reddy Bikeshare is considered an essential service as a valuable transportation provider under Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s “New York on PAUSE” executive order and is available for users for essential travel only.

Reddy Fleet Team has increased bike cleaning and sanitation procedures.
Frequently touched surfaces like hand-grips, brake lever, seat and seat lever, U-locks and keypad, are undergoing more rigorous cleaning and disinfecting. Each bike is cleaned at least twice per week. Our Team is also taking additional precautions by wearing gloves and facial covers while they interact with bikes.

Hand Sanitizer Available

Courtesy of Independent Health, bikes are equipped with hand sanitizer for each rider to use before and after their trip, while supplies last.

Follow CDC and WHO recommended guidelines to stay safe and healthy.
While we will certainly do our best to disinfect bikes frequently, everyone should do their part to stay safe and healthy. Here’s some guidelines that have been recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization:

  • Wash your hands often and use hand sanitizer
  • Provide your own personal cleaning and disinfecting measures as you see fit
  • Wear gloves to add an additional layer of protection, but remember to wash your hands before and after putting gloves on
  • Stay at home if you are sick
  • Avoid touching your face without first washing your hands
  • Avoid close contact with others

Visit reddybikeshare.com or e-mail info@reddybikeshare.com for more information.

Sign Up for BNMC’s Secure Bike Parking & Discounted GObike Buffalo Memberships

It’s the perfect time to ride! Don’t forget that the BNMC has two indoor secure bike parking locations on the Medical Campus – one at the 854 Ellicott St. parking garage and the other at Ellicott & Virginia Streets. The best part – we’re partnering with GObike Buffalo to offer you discounted memberships through the end of the summer using promo code 2020GOBNMC50. Sign up today at gobikebuffalo.org and be sure to select BNMC individual membership.

Details:

  • BNMC Individual Membership includes member-only access to secure bike parking at 854 Ellicott and Ellicott & Virginia Streets.
  • The discount cuts the BNMC Individual Membership price in half to $17.50.
  • The bike parking membership includes all of GObike’s general membership perks. All information for membership perks can be found here.

 

REDDY BikeShare Has Best Year Yet!

by BNMCin Biking, Buffalo, Business Development, Campus-wide, Community, Commuting, GO BNMC, Neighborhood Engagement, News, Wellness

Big things are hwp-contentening on the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus! As REDDY BikeShare celebrates 2019 being its fourth and most successful season – including its bike fleet hitting 200 and expanding to Niagara Falls – the Innovation Center tenant gears up for another successful season with even more in store for the 2020! (Not to mention handing out some free REDDY memberships to some lucky Buffalo bikers!) CLICK HERE to read REDDY’s full Buffalo Rising feature and learn more about what they have going on!

Grand Opening of New Indoor Bike Parking

by BNMCin Biking, Commuting, GO BNMC, Healthy Communities, Sustainability, Transportation

Grand Opening of New Indoor Bike Parking

The team at BNMC, along with community partners, recently celebrated the grand opening of the new secure indoor bike parking at 854 Ellicott in conjunction with our annual Bike to Work Day breakfast celebration.

“We are proud to have built an active commuter-friendly culture on the Medical Campus,” said Matt Enstice, President & CEO, BNMC Inc. “We worked closely with our transportation partners to create the region’s first mobility hub here on the Medical Campus and we continue to improve our infrastructure and commuting options to ensure efficient, safe, and healthy ways for employees, patients, and visitors to access the Medical Campus.”

We have more than doubled the indoor bike parking available to employees who work on the Medical Campus, patients, and their families with the opening of new secure bike parking with lockers in the parking garage at 854 Ellicott, adjacent to Oishei Children’s Hospital, Buffalo General Medical Center, and the Gates Vascular Institute.

There is space for 30 bikes in the new secure parking facility, an additional 36 spots for covered bike parking in the garage, and parking for 16 bikes right outside. In addition to 24 lockers for the cyclists to use, there is a bike vending machine stocked with bike-related amenities for commuters, including tubes, patch kits, and lights.

This adds to existing amenities, including the secure indoor bike parking with space for 15 bikes in a renovated shipping container and a bike fix-it station at the corner of Ellicott & Virginia Street that the BNMC Inc. installed in 2013. In addition, there are two Reddy Bikeshare stations with a total of 12 racks with bikes available for short term use, and free parking zone anywhere on the Medical Campus to allow users to park closer to their destination on any public rack or infrastructure without a fee.

The Medical Campus already has the densest bicycle parking in the City of Buffalo with 333 spaces (an increase of 100 spaces over last year) plus the secure bike parking. GObike Buffalo will manage the Campus-wide indoor parking as part of its longtime partnership with the BNMC.

The BNMC Inc. is the region’s leader in enhancing and marketing alternative commuting options to employees in its geography and has created the region’s first mobility hub on the Medical Campus. In addition to improving amenities for cyclists, the BNMC Inc. also works closely with the NFTA to increase service options, including extending bus lines to come into the Medical Campus. The organization also helped to design and implement the NFTA’s Corporate Pass Program, to incentivize more employees to take Metro Bus and Rail to work.

“As part of the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, we’re thrilled at this initiative that promotes a safe and easy way for our employees to bike to work,” said Allegra Jaros, President at Oishei Children’s Hospital. “Increased secure bike parking for Kaleida Health employees and our patient families will hopefully create more bike commuters on the medical campus throughout the community.”

“Commuting by bicycle is an efficient, healthy, and community-minded way to get to work. Safe and secure bike parking at the workplace encourages more people to bicycle to work, so we’re pleased to operate BNMC’s bike parking facility as part of our citywide initiative, GO Buffalo Niagara, to help downtown commuters use means other than driving alone to get to work.” Justin Booth, executive director of GObike Buffalo.

“Reddy Bikeshare is proud to celebrate Bike to Work Day once again with the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus”, said Jennifer White, marketing and communications executive for Reddy Bikeshare. “Campus employees have really embraced the use of Reddy bikes to get to and from work, to go to lunch, and to incorporate some activity into their day. It’s great to work with like-minded partners who encourage people to choose healthier, greener options.”

Grand Opening of New Indoor Bike Parking and Bike to Work Celebration this Friday on Medical Campus

by BNMCin Biking, BNMC Team, Campus-wide, Community, Commuting, GO BNMC, Healthy Communities, Homepage, News

BNMC Inc. and partners highlight improvements that support biking and commuting options across the Medical Campus, promoting health, environmental responsibility, and pedestrian-friendly streets.

BUFFALO, NY – The BNMC Inc. will officially open its new secure indoor bike parking at a breakfast gathering on Friday, May 17th at the culmination of National Bike to Work Week as they celebrate those who commute to work by bike and help to build a bike-friendly culture on the Medical Campus.

The BNMC Inc. has more than doubled the indoor bike parking available to employees who work on the Medical Campus with the opening of the new bike parking with lockers in the parking garage at 854 Ellicott, adjacent to Oishei Children’s Hospital, Buffalo General Medical Center, and the Gates Vascular Institute. In addition to lockers for the cyclists use, there is a bike vending machine stocked with bike-related amenities, such as tubes, patch kits, and lights, to aid commuters.

This adds to the secure bike parking in the renovated shipping container and bike fix-it station at the corner of Ellicott & Virginia Street that the BNMC Inc. installed in 2013. GObike Buffalo will manage the indoor parking as part of its longtime partnership with the BNMC.

The Medical Campus already has the densest bicycle parking in the City of Buffalo with 333 spaces (an increase of 100 spaces over last year) and secure bike parking, two Reddy Bikeshare stations with a total of 12 racks with bikes available for short term use, and free parking zone anywhere on the Medical Campus to allow users to park closer to their destination on any public rack or infrastructure without a fee.

WHEN:                                 Friday, May 17th  7:00 AM – 10 AM

Brief remarks begin at 9:00 AM from:

  • Mayor Byron Brown (invited)
  • Matt Enstice, President & CEO, BNMC
  • Allegra Jaros, President, John R. Oishei Children’s Hospital
  • Justin Booth, Executive Director, GObike Buffalo
  • Jennifer White, Communications Director, Reddy Bikeshare

LOCATION:         854 Ellicott Street (corner of Ellicott & Goodrich) on the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus

WHO:                   BNMC Inc. is hosting the event in partnership with GObike Buffalo and Reddy Bikeshare to celebrate bike commuters and those using active commuting options to get to work.

                                There will be a bike train beginning at City Hall for anyone looking to ride as a group to the event on the Medical Campus.

Collaborating partners in transportation planning will be on hand to share information about transportation options, programs and amenities on the Medical Campus that encourage employees to try biking, walking, transit, and carpooling.  Partners include GObike Buffalo, GO Buffalo Niagara, Reddy Bikeshare, NFTA, and others.

Free breakfast and coffee provided by Ashker’s and lloyd taco truck.  

###

Reddy Bikes are Back and Available to Ride for the Season!

by BNMCin Biking, Employees, GO BNMC

Reddy Bikes are Back and Available to Ride for the Season!

All employees who work on the Medical Campus have access to a free annual Reddy Bikeshare membership (normally a $55 value!). There are two stations on Campus, one at Ellicott and Virginia, and the other located on Main St. near the Allen/Medical Campus train station. The entire BNMC is a free parking zone, so feel free to lock the bike to any secure public infrastructure.
To sign up and ride:
  1. Visit Reddybikeshare.com or download the Social Bicycles wp-content to register.
  2. Choose the Annual Pass, which will allow you access to all 200 bikes 24/7, April – November.
  3. Enter the promo code GOBNMC2019 at checkout. Make sure to hit “wp-contently” if you’re using the wp-content. Your membership fee will be waived, just pay 1 cent per minute to ride. Parking fees and fines may occur.
  4. Use the wp-content to locate bikes, or simply walk up to one and enter your account number and PIN. Unlock the bike, place the U-lock in the holster and ride! You can lock the bike to any other Reddy station or public bike rack in the city of Buffalo at the end of your trip.
Pro Tips:
  • The seat adjusts to your height, and there are three gears on your right handle and a bell on your left, use them!
  • Press the “HOLD” button on the bike’s keypad before locking the bike in order to keep your bike reserved while you make stops along your trip.
  • Find Bounty Bikes to accrue credit. When you find a Reddy bike outside a station or free parking zone, bring it back to a station for us and receive $1.00 in riding credit.
Visit reddybikeshare.com or e-mail info@reddybikeshare.com for more information.

Go Buffalo Niagara Offering Special Commuter Perks

by BNMCin Commuting, GO BNMC

Go Buffalo Niagara Offering Special Commuter Perks

Your commute is important to you, and it’s important to us! To celebrate Earth Month, our partner, Go Buffalo Niagara, is offering special perks when you use their commute tools or share them with a friend during the month of April.

Earn rewards cards to the store of your choice 

Get $10 when you track at least 10 trips in April 2019 using the 511NY Rideshare trip tracker. You can track your trips on the mobile wp-content, or in your web browser when you log in to the GOBNMC Rideshare portal!

Get $10 when you refer a friend to the BNMC’s rideshare portal and they sign up! If they’re not on the BNMC, they can use the regional Go Buffalo Niagara rideshare portal. Just send the name of the friend you referred to info@gobuffaloniagara.org.

Want some customized help with your commute?

Find a rideshare, bike buddy, or transit route with personalized assistance from our team of experts. Send us an email at info@gobuffaloniagara.org or give us a call at 716-218-7806.

BNMC Celebrates Dump the Pump Day on June 21st

by BNMCin Biking, Buffalo, Commuting, Employees, Event, GO BNMC, Healthy Communities, Sustainability, Transportation

Join the BNMC for our annual Dump the Pump Day celebration on Thursday, June 21st!
Dump the Pump Day is a nationally recognized day to encourage people to travel around their cities in a way that supports and raises awareness for the benefits of sustainable transportation. Ride to work on public transit, bike, join a carpool, or walk to reduce fossil fuel emissions and your carbon footprint.

The BNMC will be hosting a celebration for employees and neighbors who “dump the pump” for the day, June 21st from 8:00 – 10:00 AM, at Allen/Medical Campus Metro Rail Station. There will be live music and free coffee for everyone who takes the pledge!

Take the Dump The Pump pledge and remember that when it comes to bettering the environment every little bit counts!

Bike To It!

by BNMCin Biking, BNMC Team, Campus-wide, Community, Commuting, Employees, Event, GO BNMC, Healthy Communities

Bike To It!

Bike to Work Breakfast to Celebrate Cyclists and Improved Bike Amenities on Medical Campus this Friday 

Improvements that support biking and commuting options are increasing on the Medical Campus, promoting health, environmental responsibility, and pedestrian-friendly streets.

 

WHAT: A breakfast gathering at the culmination of National Bike to Work Week to celebrate those who commute to work by bike and to highlight the many amenities and improvements on the Medical Campus specifically designed to create a bike-friendly culture.

The Medical Campus has the densest bicycle parking in the City of Buffalo with 233 spaces and secure bike parking, two Reddy Bike Stations with a total of 12 bikes for short term use, and geo-fencing around the Campus perimeter to allow users to leave Reddy Bikes anywhere on Campus rather than at a Reddy Bike station. Other amenities include a newly painted crosswalks at Ellicott and Virginia with more to be added this summer, covered and locked bike storage, and 100 additional bike racks added to the Campus this summer, including additional secure bike storage.

WHEN: Friday, May 18th  7:30 AM – 10 AM

WHERE: At the park at the corner of Ellicott and Virginia Streets on the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus

WHO: BNMC is hosting the event in partnership with Gobike Buffalo to celebrate bike commuters and those using active commuting options to get to work.

Collaborating partners in transportation planning will be on hand to share information about transportation options, programs and amenities on Campus that encourage Campus employees to try biking, walking, transit, and carpooling.  Partners include GObike Buffalo, Go Buffalo Niagara, Reddy Bikeshare, NFTA, and others.

Breakfast and coffee provided by The Grove and Caffeology.

WHY: BNMC and its transportation partners are committed to creating a bike-friendly campus and encouraging local residents to try new modes of transportation that are environmentally friendly, promote health, and contribute to a cyclist and pedestrian-friendly city.

Employees Invited to Share Commuting Story!

by BNMCin Employees, GO BNMC, Sustainability, Transportation, Wellness

Do you carpool with a friend, take the subway or bus to work? Do you walk, bike, or run here? We want to hear your commuting story! There are a thousand ways to get to the BNMC—what’s your mode?
Email us at gobnmc@bnmc-old.local with the following information for a chance to be featured in our upcoming transportation campaign.

  • Name
  • Employer
  • Mode of transport
  • Sentence or two on why you love your commute!

Thanks for sharing your story with us! We’ll be in touch soon.

Change Up Your Commute this Spring!

by BNMCin Campus-wide, Commuting, Employees, GO BNMC, Healthy Communities, Transportation

Change Up Your Commute this Spring!

It might not feel like spring quite yet, but pretty soon the weather will turn and it’ll be time to dust off your bicycle and break out your walking shoes. As an employee on the BNMC, there are plenty of ways to commute to work that are not only healthy, but have less impact on the environment, and can save you money!

With a focus on creating a healthy community, our GoBNMC program encourages the use of fewer single-driver cars on and to Campus. Sign up for any of our transportation programs at GoBNMC.org to discover options and savings!

Commuting Options & GoBNMC Perks:

  • Public Transit: The newly renovated Allen Street Subway station is located right on Campus inside the new Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. The NFTA has also extended bus routes from the Southtowns to the Medical Campus with pick-up and drop-off locations at Carlton and Ellicott streets. Ask your employer about the BNMC corporate subsidy of at least $20 for monthly metro passes and pre-tax savings for transit to make it even more economical.
  • Carpool: If driving with one or more colleagues, you can take advantage of preferred parking spaces and a carpooling pass that allows you to split the cost of parking with up to four people (only one car can park at any given time).  Pre-tax payroll deductions may make this even cheaper.
  • Bike: We have plenty of bike racks on Campus and bike storage with 24/7 member-only access at the corner of Ellicott and Virginia. Need to get to a meeting or make a quick trip for lunch or errands? Grab one of the many Reddy Bikes on Campus at your convenience! Annual memberships are free for Medical Campus employees with the promo code GOBNMC2017 at reddybikeshare.com.
  • Need a ride after getting to campus without a car? Take advantage of the Zipcar Carshare program to use a vehicle for a flat rate (includes gas & insurance). Free membership and discounted rates are available for Medical Campus employees. We also offer Guaranteed Ride Home if something unexpected comes up and you need to be there quickly!
  • Walk: Enjoy the scenery and the health benefits by getting to Campus on two feet!

All Aboard! Connecting People to Places on the BNMC

by BNMCin Employees, GO BNMC, Transportation

All Aboard! Connecting People to Places on the BNMC

Getting around the BNMC just got easier! We recently launched the Discovery & Link shuttles, allowing worry-free transportation for employees from their car to their destination. With the temperatures regularly below freezing this winter, our shuttles eliminate cold, snowy walks and provide (car) door-to- (workplace) door service! The Discovery shuttle route goes around the BNMC, stopping at Conventus, UB Jacobs School of Medicine, Oishei Children’s Hospital, Buffalo Medical Group, Allen/Medical Campus NFTA station, and parking lots at 1145 Main Street, 980 Ellicott Street and 589 Ellicott Street. The Link shuttle runs from the Gallagher Lot at the old Children’s Hospital to the new Oishei Children’s Hospital and the UB Jacobs School of Medicine. The schedule for both shuttles is located here.

Give Transit a Try For Free!

by BNMCin Campus-wide, Employees, Environment, GO BNMC, Healthy Communities, Member Institution(s), Outreach, Transportation, Wellness

The Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus is offering employees who work on the Medical Campus the chance to try transit for free, either using the bus or train to get to work during the month of November, December, or January. With two train stations and multiple bus routes directly serving the Medical Campus, transit is a great way to get to work.

If you are interested in giving transit a try, please fill out this short survey. Eligible participants must work on the Medical Campus and not use public transportation as their primary commute mode. They must also put their parking pass on hold for the month in which they choose to try transit. Passes may be picked up at the front desk of the Innovation Center at 640 Ellicott Street between 8 am to 8 pm.

Already a GoBNMC member? We want to thank you for being awesome! Starting in November, we’ll be raffling off four $50 gift certificates every month until January to local businesses in our surrounding community. Register now for a chance to win!

If you are new to public transit, check out our Frequently Asked Questions.The NFTA’s website is useful for schedule information.

BNMC Partners with Lyft

by BNMCin Campus-wide, Employees, Environment, GO BNMC, Healthy Communities, Innovation, News, Outreach, Sustainability, Technology, Transportation

The BNMC is pleased to announce our partnership with Lyft to provide mobility solutions for employees who work on the Medical Campus, including services such as our guaranteed ride home program for employees using alternative transportation. Haven’t used Lyft before? Try it for free with promo code BNMC2017.
The code is only valid for new users and is worth one free ride, up to $10. The coupon will expire 21 days after it’s added to a Lyft account.

While we’re on promo codes, the Reddy Bike fleet will be downsizing for the winter in the next couple of weeks, so if you haven’t had a chance to sign up for your annual pass, there’s still time! Use promo code GOBNMC2017 for a free membership.

Join Us for a GoBNMC Bike Breakfast on August 25th!

by BNMCin Biking, Campus-wide, Community, Employees, Event, GO BNMC, Healthy Communities, Member Institution(s), Networking, Transportation, Wellness
GoBNMC and GObike Buffalo are excited to host a Bike Breakfast on Friday, August 25th from 7:30-10am in the park at Ellicott & Virginia Streets for employees who work on the Medical Campus and members of our community. GObike Buffalo will be on deck to help with minor repairs to keep you riding smooth into fall. Need a bike for your commute? Try Reddy Bikeshare for free with promo code GOBNMC2017. Download the flyer and share with your friends and colleagues.

NFTA and BNMC Collaborate to Extend Bus Routes Directly to the Medical Campus

by BNMCin Community, Employees, GO BNMC, Member Institution(s), News, Sustainability, Transportation

NFTA and BNMC Collaborate to Extend Bus Routes Directly to the Medical Campus

Added stops provide convenience for Medical Campus employees, visitors and patients

 

Buffalo, N.Y. June 15, 2017 – The Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, Inc. (BNMC) and the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA) have announced the extension of two current bus routes that will drop and pick up riders directly on the Medical Campus Mondays through Fridays. Some trips for routes #14 Abbott and the #16 South Park, both traveling to and from South Buffalo, Lackawanna, Blasdell and Hamburg, will be extended to Carlton and Ellicott streets in the heart the Medical Campus beginning on June 19th. Both routes currently end at Mohawk and Ellicott Streets in downtown Buffalo.

The extended routes will allow riders from south of the city to access the Medical Campus without transferring to another bus, making the ride more convenient and direct. It will also allow those on and around the Medical Campus to directly access Solar City, ECC South, McKinley Mall and other points south of downtown. Park and ride lots at the beginning of both routes at McKinley Mall and at Erie Community College also offer access and convenience to the Medical Campus for residents in the Southtowns.

According to William Smith, Director of Access for the BNMC, Inc., “By partnering with the NFTA, we are finding new ways to provide more access to the Medical Campus without adding more cars to the neighborhood. This access, coupled with the Corporate Pass Program offered through the NFTA, will help to make the commute to the Medical Campus more convenient, affordable and healthy for all.”

The Corporate Pass Program offers Medical Campus employees, a discounted monthly transit pass for $55, a savings of $20 from NFTA monthly passes.  Employees can save even more because the passes are purchased with pre-tax dollar earnings.

Buffalo Common Council President and Ellicott District Common Council Member Darius G. Pridgen commented, “Since transportation can often be an impediment to jobs, we are delighted that commuters will have a more direct and convenient way to access jobs on the Medical Campus as well as to opportunities at Solar City and other employers south of the city.  These types of changes can have a big impact of residents’ lives.”

“The NFTA is thrilled to partner with the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus,” said Kimberley A. Minkel, NFTA Executive Director.  “We are tremendously proud to be able to support the BNMC by providing this enhanced bus service that will serve employees, patients and visitors of BNMC.”

Through its GOBNMC program, the BNMC works with several transportation partners to develop strategies and programs designed to address the rapid growth of the Medical Campus community and to provide alternative transportation options including transit, bicycling, walking, car share and other programs. For more information regarding these programs go to www.GOBNMC.ORG. The NFTA is proud to provide 8 routes at the BNMC.

About the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, Inc.           

The Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, Inc. (BNMC Inc.) is a self-sustaining social enterprise successfully combining innovation, job creation, and urban revitalization. It serves as the umbrella organization of the anchor institutions that make up the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus located within the 120-acre campus bordering Allentown, the Fruit Belt and Downtown. The BNMC Inc. fosters conversation and collaboration among its member institutions, its partners and the community to address critical issues impacting them, including entrepreneurship, energy, access and transportation, workforce and procurement, neighborhoods, and healthy communities, with the goal of increasing economic development and building a strong community. www.bnmc-old.local.

 

For more information, contact:

Susan Kirkpatrick, BNMC Inc. skirkpatrick@bnmc-old.local

716.866.8002(m)

Join Us for Dump the Pump Day 2017

by BNMCin Campus-wide, Community, Employees, Event, GO BNMC, Healthy Communities, Member Institution(s), Networking, Outreach, Transportation

On Thursday, June 15, Citizens for Regional Transit will be observing the 12th annual National Dump the Pump Day.
To spread information about public transit as well as other options such as biking, walking, and carpooling, CRT will join several local organizations in hosting Dump the Pump Day information tables:

  • Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus is at Allen/Medical Campus Station, 7:00 – 10:00 a.m., with coffee and street musicians
  • Go Buffalo-Niagara/the Greater Buffalo-Niagara Regional Transportation Council is at Lafayette Square Station, 7:00 – 10:00 a.m., with breakfast, literature, and stickers
  • GO bike Buffalo is at Hostel Buffalo Niagara, 667 Main Street, 7:00 – 10:00 a.m., on WEDNESDAY, JUNE 14, with breakfast followed by a ride
  • Citizens for Regional Transit is at Church Street Station, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m., with literature and maps.

Stop by at any of these events for more information about transportation alternatives. Sign the pledge to dump the pump on June 15 and do good for the environment, your budget, personal health, schedule, and regional traffic: https://goo.gl/DDJDTA.

Watch video to learn more.

Taking Transit FAQ

by BNMCin Campus-wide, Employees, GO BNMC, Transportation

New to transit and not quite sure how to navigate the train or bus system? Let us help you with some answers to your questions!

How reliable are the trains & buses?

Very!  During the morning and evening commute time, trains run wp-contentroximately every ten minutes. Bus times can vary so check metro.nfta.com for specific schedules. The NFTA has a number of commuting tools at http://metro.nfta.com/Routes/AppCenter.aspx to help you plan your ride!

Which station is closest to my house?

That depends on where you live! Visit www.gobnmc-old.local or call Thea at 716-218-7805 for help determining your quickest and easiest mode.

How crowded is the train? Will I be able to sit down?

Crowd density varies based on the time of day and when there is a major event downtown, however getting a seat on most rides is not a problem.

Is it safe?

Yes – NFTA Metro public safety patrol the trains and stations regularly.

Will I find a parking space easily at the Park & Ride?

Yes. There are two dedicated Park & Ride lots for transit at University and the LaSalle Station. Parking is easy and convenient. There are also a number of Park & Ride lots that serve bus routes and that can be found at metro.nfta.com. Up to two bikes are allowed on individual train cars and select buses if you want to avoid driving to a station. Passengers with bikes are asked to move to the front or back of the train and stay with the bike throughout the trip.  Bike racks are available for bus riders on select buses.

What about payment? Where do I put my ticket/pass?

If you’re commuting to work, take advantage of the NFTA’s new corporate pass program, which reduces the cost by at least $20. More information on that can be found here.

Individual transit tickets can be purchased at ticketing vending machines in all Metro stations and a standard ticket is $2 per ride. Cash or credit cards can be used at the vending machines and paper money, coins and fare cards can be used on buses. Exact fare is necessary for bus trips and payment is required upon boarding. Passes and individual tickets can also be purchased online at metro.nfta.com. You may or may not be asked for your ticket once on the train, but be advised that any passengers who do not have a ticket can be fined up to $30. More details on riding metro trains and buses available at metro.nfta.com.

 

 

Join Our Bike Trains and Bike to Work Breakfast with Your Neighbors on May 19th!

by BNMCin Biking, Campus-wide, Community, Employees, GO BNMC, Healthy Communities, Networking, News, Outreach, Transportation

In an effort to encourage more people to try biking as a commuting option and to participate in Bike to Work Day on May 19, local commuters will have the opportunity to join “Bike Trains” to ride to work on the Medical Campus with a group instead of on their own.
The BNMC, in collaboration with GObike Buffalo, have designated four meeting locations for interested bicyclists to meet and ride a designated route with experienced riders in time to join the Bike to Work Day breakfast to be held on the Medical Campus on Friday, May 19th.

Where are the trains starting from?

  • MLK Park at 7:45 am with Henry Raess, GObike Buffalo Event Manager
  • LaSalle Station at 8:00 am with Bill Smith, Director of Access for Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus
  • City Hall at 8:15 am with Justin Booth, Director of GObike Buffalo
  • Ferry and Richmond Avenue at 8:15 am with Jen White, Executive of Reddy Bikeshare

How do I participate?

Sign up at bit.ly/2paStPz and meet your group between 7:30 am and 8:30 am on the morning of May 19.

 What if I don’t have a bike?

Riders can bring their own bikes or take advantage of the Reddy Bikes that will be available at each meet up location.

I’ve never commuted by bike, is that okay?

The bike trains are intended to encourage less experienced riders to try commuting by bike with others and to create a sense of camaraderie on Bike to Work Day.

What hwp-contentens at the breakfast?

The Bike to Work Day celebration will include a light breakfast, bike portraits, and short celebration at the pocket park located at Ellicott Street and North Oak Street on the Medical Campus beginning at 7:00 AM. GObike Buffalo will provide free minor bike repairs and adjustments for riders on site. Bike storage is available across the street at North Oak and Ellicott or at the many bike racks throughout Campus.  Medical Campus employees are also eligible for free Reddy Bike share memberships and can sign up by emailing gobnmc@bnmc-old.local.

Bike to Work Day is just one of many Bike Month events and activities to celebrate and encourage biking.  A full list of activities can be found at www.gobikebuffalo.org.

Free Week-Long Transit Passes & Reddy Bikeshare Memberships for Campus Employees

by BNMCin Biking, Campus-wide, GO BNMC, Member Institution(s), Transportation

Give Transit a Try this May!
The BNMC is offering free week-long transit passes to encourage employees to test out this commuting option. With the Allen Medical Campus Station located in the heart of our Campus, and park and rides available throughout the region, taking Metro to work has never been easier. To select a week in May to try transit for free, please complete this short form.

Continue reading “Free Week-Long Transit Passes & Reddy Bikeshare Memberships for Campus Employees”

Editorial: Forward-looking Medical Campus is working on parking crunch

by BNMCin Campus-wide, Environment, GO BNMC, Infrastructure, Innovation, Transportation

Editorial: Forward-looking Medical Campus is working on parking crunch

By News Editorial Board

The Buffalo News

Credit is due to the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus for encouraging employees to use greener and healthier means of getting to and from work by taking advantage of public transportation and pedal power.

It is a good strategy for easing the parking crunch that will only get worse with thousands more workers about to join the workforce. And it will help those employees and medical school students develop lifelong habits that will benefit themselves and the environment.

The grounds of the Medical Campus have been bustling. Gates Vascular Institute and the University at Buffalo’s Clinical and Translational Research Center opened in 2012. Conventus Medical Office Building and Roswell Park Cancer Institute’s Clinical Sciences Center opened within the past year.

The John R. Oishei Children’s Hospital and the University at Buffalo’s Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences are scheduled to open by the end of the year.

There will be an astounding number of people in a relatively small space. It would be virtually impossible to create the parking infrastructure that would be needed if everyone drives to work.

Instead, the BNMC is taking a proactive wp-contentroach in getting its expected 15,000 employees to work each day. The nonprofit umbrella organization coordinates transportation and other neighborhood initiatives on the 120-acre Medical Campus.

Officials recently hired a new program manager, Thea Hassan, to work on neighborhood transportation initiatives. Hassan is trying to get folks out into the sunshine and fresh air by persuading them to bicycle to work.

For those concerned about which route to take or  who want to brush up on the rules of the road, Hassan is creating the Bike Sherpa. It’s an ingenious buddy system designed to ease the nervousness beginners might feel about a bicycle commute.

GoBike Buffalo and Reddy Bikeshare have been an integral part of the effort to replace pushing the gas pedal with pushing the bike pedals. Reddy Bikeshare had more than a half-dozen rental bikes on campus last year. This year a second station on the Medical Campus is being added, bringing the total to 200 bikes at 35 stations throughout the city. The bikes rent by the hour or through a yearly $55 membership. There will be a free trial membership to encourage employees to bike to work.

The Bike Sherpa service would be available once every few weeks for a limited time and is free and open to Medical Campus employees.

The nonprofit will also work to make it easier for commuters who want to use Metro Rail. The newly renovated Allen-Medical Campus Station is inside UB’s new medical school building, making it very convenient for workers, students and visitors. The Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority is providing even more incentive to take public transportation with a six-month trial of a corporate discount program that could cut the cost of a $75 monthly pass to as low as $38.50 for some bus and rail commuters.

Parking crunches are signs of the growing importance of the Medical Campus. Plans to ease them show forward thinking.

Medical Campus explores shuttle to connect commuters to Metro Rail

by BNMCin Campus-wide, Community, Environment, GO BNMC, Healthy Communities, News, Sustainability, Transportation

Medical Campus explores shuttle to connect commuters to Metro Rail

By Karen Robinson
The Buffalo News

Catching that train to the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus may soon have a silver lining, depending on where you live.

Those who commute to the Medical Campus and are looking to hop the Metro Rail, but live a good distance from it, may get some help to get to the train and back home so they don’t have to drive and search for parking.

The non-profit organization that coordinates transportation and other neighborhood initiatives on the Medical Campus is looking for ways to help smooth the way for would-be train commuters who don’t live close to the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority’s Metro line.

“We’re trying to see if we can implement a shuttle service, bike share or van pool,” said Thea Hassan, BNMC’s newly hired transportation program manager. “It’s being considered.”

It all ties into the organization’s goal to encourage people working and studying on campus – and living near it – to choose healthier options and to help minimize parking crunches on the campus and neighborhood streets.

[Related: Medical Campus hires transportation program manager]

“Our goal is a new way of thinking. Instead of expanding the supply, we’re trying to reduce the demand,” Hassan said of BNMC’s transportation initiatives. “We’re trying to tackle from bottom up, top down, and all of our sides.”

Hassan has dubbed the shuttle idea “First mile, last mile.” The big focus is to help people who live a mile or so away from the Metro line. “How do we get them there and back home?” she said.

No decision has been made, but the organization is working on helping to make it easier for commuters to use the Metro Rail to get to the newly renovated Allen Street Medical Station, which is located inside the University at Buffalo’s new medical school building under construction at Allen and Main streets.

Editorial: Forward-looking Medical Campus is working on parking crunch

by BNMCin Campus-wide, Community, Employees, GO BNMC, Infrastructure, Parking, Sustainability, Transportation

Editorial: Forward-looking Medical Campus is working on parking crunch

By News Editorial Board
The Buffalo News

Credit is due to the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus for encouraging employees to use greener and healthier means of getting to and from work by taking advantage of public transportation and pedal power.

It is a good strategy for easing the parking crunch that will only get worse with thousands more workers about to join the workforce. And it will help those employees and medical school students develop lifelong habits that will benefit themselves and the environment.

The grounds of the Medical Campus have been bustling. Gates Vascular Institute and the University at Buffalo’s Clinical and Translational Research Center opened in 2012. Conventus Medical Office Building and Roswell Park Cancer Institute’s Clinical Sciences Center opened within the past year.

The John R. Oishei Children’s Hospital and the University at Buffalo’s Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences are scheduled to open by the end of the year.

Credit is due to the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus for encouraging employees to use greener and healthier means of getting to and from work by taking advantage of public transportation and pedal power.

It is a good strategy for easing the parking crunch that will only get worse with thousands more workers about to join the workforce. And it will help those employees and medical school students develop lifelong habits that will benefit themselves and the environment.

The grounds of the Medical Campus have been bustling. Gates Vascular Institute and the University at Buffalo’s Clinical and Translational Research Center opened in 2012. Conventus Medical Office Building and Roswell Park Cancer Institute’s Clinical Sciences Center opened within the past year.

The John R. Oishei Children’s Hospital and the University at Buffalo’s Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences are scheduled to open by the end of the year.

There will be an astounding number of people in a relatively small space. It would be virtually impossible to create the parking infrastructure that would be needed if everyone drives to work.

Instead, the BNMC is taking a proactive wp-contentroach in getting its expected 15,000 employees to work each day. The nonprofit umbrella organization coordinates transportation and other neighborhood initiatives on the 120-acre Medical Campus.

Officials recently hired a new program manager, Thea Hassan, to work on neighborhood transportation initiatives. Hassan is trying to get folks out into the sunshine and fresh air by persuading them to bicycle to work.

For those concerned about which route to take or  who want to brush up on the rules of the road, Hassan is creating the Bike Sherpa. It’s an ingenious buddy system designed to ease the nervousness beginners might feel about a bicycle commute.

GoBike Buffalo and Reddy Bikeshare have been an integral part of the effort to replace pushing the gas pedal with pushing the bike pedals. Reddy Bikeshare had more than a half-dozen rental bikes on campus last year. This year a second station on the Medical Campus is being added, bringing the total to 200 bikes at 35 stations throughout the city. The bikes rent by the hour or through a yearly $55 membership. There will be a free trial membership to encourage employees to bike to work.

The Bike Sherpa service would be available once every few weeks for a limited time and is free and open to Medical Campus employees.

The nonprofit will also work to make it easier for commuters who want to use Metro Rail. The newly renovated Allen-Medical Campus Station is inside UB’s new medical school building, making it very convenient for workers, students and visitors. The Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority is providing even more incentive to take public transportation with a six-month trial of a corporate discount program that could cut the cost of a $75 monthly pass to as low as $38.50 for some bus and rail commuters.

Parking crunches are signs of the growing importance of the Medical Campus. Plans to ease them show forward thinking.