Organizers: New bike and scooter program ‘extremely important’ for Rochester

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) — While Rochester’s new e-bike and scooter program has been around for about a month, organizers and city leaders Thursday officially gave the program a public introduction.

The program, called the "HOPR" shared mobility system, brought pedal bikes, electric-assist bikes, and electric scooters to Rochester and the surrounding suburbs including Brighton, Brockport, Irondequoit, Pittsford, and Fairport-Perinton.

HOPR Operations Manager Isaac Hutton told News10NBC the program is an effort for the future, to get people away from buses and towards more sustainable and effective modes of transportation.

"We’re moving away from the internal combustion engine vehicle, and so the more we can rely on electric power, our scooters are 100% electric power, the human body is electric-powered in its own way, and that’s why we got the electric-powered pedal bikes," Hutton said. "And so obviously, for cities in the future, it’s extremely important."

#HappeningNow Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren is speaking during a news conference to formally introduce the HOPR bike and scooter program to the city. pic.twitter.com/AKpBKPqpHR

— news10nbc (@news10nbc) July 22, 2021

Among those who spoke during the introduction, was Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren, who made her first public appearance since pleading not guilty Wednesday to gun and child endangerment charges.

Warren did not address the case, but did ride on a HOPR scooter.

So far, HOPR has 35 active stations for you to rent a bike or scooter in the city, and organizers say they are planning to expand.