Zagster Donates 36 Bikes to Boston YMCA -- First of Ultimately Hundreds of Bikes to YMCAs Across the Country

BOSTON, MA--(Marketwired - Aug 19, 2015) - Zagster and the YMCA of Greater Boston have partnered to expand access to shiny, comfortable, city-friendly cruiser bikes, as the YMCA receives a donation of 36 bikes that are being de-fleeted from Zagster's bike share program. The bikes, which have been fully refurbished and checked for safety and comfort, will be used by teen members at the YMCA of Greater Boston's Huntington Ave. branch with the goal to improve health and wellness and provide vehicles of transportation for the youth. This is the first of a nationwide donation partnership between Zagster and the YMCA.

City Councilor Josh Zakim will join representatives from Zagster and the YMCA at a press conference at the Y's Huntington Ave. branch to celebrate and announce the launch of the national partnership that will see Zagster deliver hundreds of bikes to YMCAs.

The bikes, only three years old, are being phased out of service as the result of Zagster expanding its programs. With each new contract and/or contract renewal, Zagster in-fleets brand new bikes. As Zagster reaches the end of its first set of contracts in the next 12 months, hundreds of bikes are coming offline and will become available for donation to YMCAs.

"Zagster's mission is to make bikes as widely available to as many people as we can, so extending the lifecycle of these bicycles by making them available to the YMCA is a perfect fit," said Tim Ericson, co-founder and CEO of Zagster. "The bikes are clean, safe and in perfect working condition, and will serve the YMCA for years to come."

The bikes donated to the Huntington Ave. Y will benefit 36 teens who participate in the branch's teen center, sponsored by Arbella Insurance. The 36 teens were selected based on essays they wrote on how a bike could change their life.

"Something as simple as a bike can make a big difference in a teen's life and we are grateful for this donation from Zagster," said Aaron Donahue, executive director of the YMCA of Greater Boston's Huntington Ave. branch. "With two wheels underneath them, our young members will be able to commute to work, school and the gym, as well as get out and exercise and explore all that the city has to offer."

"I was excited to hear about the new partnership between Zagster and the YMCA," Zakim said. "I appreciate Zagster's commitment to the community, and look forward to watching this program, starting here in Boston, expand to other cities."

About Zagster
Founded in Philadelphia in 2007 as CityRyde and now headquartered in Cambridge, Mass., Zagster is the leading provider of private and public-private bike sharing systems. Zagster is uniquely focused on contracting with property managers, hotels, businesses, universities and smaller cities across North America to make bike sharing programs available to tenants, employees, guests, students and residents. This highly efficient and unique model allows Zagster to offer services in areas that traditional city-wide bike sharing systems can't reach. More information about Zagster is available at www.Zagster.com.

About the YMCA
The Y is one of the nation's leading nonprofits strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. Across the U.S., 2,700 Ys engage 22 million men, women and children -- regardless of age, income or background -- to nurture the potential of children and teens, improve the nation's health and well-being, and provide opportunities to give back and support neighbors. Anchored in more than 10,000 communities, the Y has the long-standing relationships and physical presence not just to promise, but to deliver, lasting personal and social change. For more information about the Y, visit www.ymca.net