A Brief History of Bicycle Advocacy in Hoboken
The Early Days of Advocacy
In 1986, a small group of dedicated cyclists—Janice Weiss, Joan Abel, Jim Vance, and Susanne Warren—came together to form the Hoboken Bicycle And... Club. They organized group rides, primarily traveling through JFK Boulevard East to Liberty State Park. Jim Vance, in particular, played a key role in growing the club’s membership, fostering a sense of community among local cyclists.
During the late 1990s and early 2000s, Hobiken was founded by now City Council President Jim Doyle, operating out of the basement of Symposia Bookstore. Hobiken’s mission was simple: fix up bikes and lend them out for free. Volunteers acquired abandoned bikes from city auctions, repaired them, and met weekly to maintain their small but impactful operation. Hobiken provided a critical resource for those who needed bicycles for transportation but couldn’t afford them.
The Birth of Bike Hoboken
By 2007, Juan Melli had moved to Hoboken and quickly realized the city’s lack of bike-friendly infrastructure. Despite its walkability, biking in Hoboken was intimidating and unsafe. There were no bike lanes, no daylighting at intersections, and securing a bike was a challenge due to rampant theft.
Determined to change this, Melli founded Bike Hoboken in June 2008, with a goal of advocating for bike lanes and establishing secure bike parking at the train station. Although the city had developed a Bicycle Master Plan in 2004, many aspects of the plan had not yet been implemented— Melli began the cycling community's effort to push for real change.
Building Momentum (2010–2015)
In May 2010, leadership of Bike Hoboken transitioned to Chris Giannini, followed by Josh Meyers and then Brian Wagner. Under their leadership, the organization expanded its presence in the community. They participated in street festivals to distribute flyers, spreading awareness of Bike Hoboken and growing its advocacy base. During this time, Bike Hoboken worked closely with then-Mayor Dawn Zimmer and Transportation Director Ryan Sharp to advance safe streets initiatives and improve the city’s bike infrastructure. They also advocated for alternative transportation options like Zipcar, emphasizing the need to transition away from personal vehicle ownership as the city grew.
Practical improvements for cyclists included the installation of a bicycle repair station and racks at the Hoboken PATH station, making cycling more accessible. With the partnership of now-Hudson County Commissioner Anthony Romano and the Hudson Transportation Administration, Bike Hoboken also strengthened its community ties by hosting events like the Bike Rodeo, which provided free bikes to children in the Hoboken Housing Authority, and organizing the first community bike rides with the Hoboken Police Department to encourage safe cycling. A major milestone during this period was the 2010 update to the Bike Master Plan, which would eventually lead to crucial infrastructure changes such as curb bump-outs and bike lanes, setting the foundation for a more bike-friendly Hoboken.
The Start of Bike Share (2015)
In early 2015, Ron Bautista took over leadership of Bike Hoboken. Inspired by the documentary Cities on Speed: Bogota Change, Bautista pushed for innovative solutions to improve cycling infrastructure.
During this time, Hudson Bike Share was introduced—an important precursor to Citi Bike. With more Hoboken residents using bikes for transportation, Bautista continued to advocate for safer cycling conditions, organizing a high-profile group ride on Washington Street in 2015 that drew attention to its unsafe design.
One of his most notable initiatives was the transformation of Sinatra Drive at Union Dry Dock, which was then used as curbside parking. With support from Bike Hoboken Founder and then-city employee Juan Melli, Bautista advocated for a pilot program to close off curbside parking on weekends, converting it into a multi-use path. The program, sponsored by then-Councilmember Ravi Bhalla, was a success and led to a permanent redesign.
Community Growth and Expanded Advocacy (2015–2024)
After initially meeting Ron at a CERT training, where she was riding a Hudson Bike Share bike, Chris Adair eventually took the reins of Bike Hoboken in late 2015. Under her leadership, the organization significantly expanded its community outreach. In 2021, with support from Councilwoman Emily Jabbour and the Hoboken Police Department, Bike Hoboken introduced regularly scheduled family-oriented bike rides to encourage safe cycling for all ages. That same year, Citi Bike launched in Hoboken, a program which has since grown to nearly 500,000 rides per year.
Adair also played a crucial role in advocating for Vision Zero, an initiative aimed at eliminating traffic deaths and serious injuries, which resulted in the city's first Vision Zero Action Plan in 2021. She spearheaded advocacy for the development of the Green Circuit, partnering with Fund for a Better Waterfront to secure waterfront access and advocating for land use along Hoboken’s west side. Despite some public resistance, she pushed for the expansion of daylighting and intersection hardening, which has become a national model of safe street design. The organization also supported Open Streets initiatives, rotating car-free events on Jefferson, Madison, and Sinatra Streets. Additionally, Adair helped secure more bike parking at key locations throughout Hoboken, such as ShopRite, Trader Joe’s, and the PATH station to accommodate the growing number of cyclists.
Further solidifying Bike Hoboken's role as a leading force in regional bicycle advocacy, Chris partnered with Emmanuelle Morgan to create Hudson County Complete Streets, an organization designed to advocate for safer streets throughout all of Hudson County.
The Future of Bike Hoboken
In 2024, Chris Adair handed the organization over to, current Executive Director, Andrew Wilson. Under his leadership, Bike Hoboken was formalized as a nonprofit corporation and secured 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status. The initial Board of Trustees included himself, Clayton Lane, and Josh Grgas, marking a significant step toward long-term sustainability and expanded advocacy efforts.
From its grassroots beginnings in the 1980s to a well-established advocacy organization today, Bike Hoboken has made a profound impact on the city’s landscape. Thanks to decades of dedicated activists, Hoboken now boasts extensive bike infrastructure, a thriving bike share program, and an engaged cycling community.
While challenges remain, Bike Hoboken continues to push for safer, more accessible streets. As Hoboken grows, so does the need for sustainable, people-centered transportation solutions—ensuring that bikes remain an integral part of the city’s future.
Interested in getting involved? Follow Bike Hoboken’s latest initiatives and join a ride today!