CITI Bike is New York City’s bike-share system, and the bikes get a lot of use.
As in 10,012,797 rides in 2015, up from 8,092,952 in 2014.
Success like this breeds growth. It started in 2013 with around 6,000 bikes at 332 stations, and currently has ~7,500 bikes and 460 stations. By the end of 2017, Citi Bike will have around 12,000 bikes and 700 stations. Geographic coverage will accordingly expand.
Success also breeds sponsorship. Citibank has agreed to increase their sponsorship through 2024.
As to safety, here’s this from a press release issued by NYC Dep’t of Transportation in October, 2014 : “There have been no fatalities or serious injuries to Citi Bike riders in the nearly 14 million trips made on the system since its launch.”
Phrases that occur over and over in the press release and elsewhere, quoting local pols and neighbourhood leaders on the effect of Citi Bike are: “transportation alternative”, or “option”, or “public transit option”. Health and wellness too: “… said Council Member Robert E. Cornegy, Jr. ‘Cycling is healthy for individuals, for families and for communities & the more cyclists join the party, the safer we all become’.”
Vancouver’s bike share system still waits in the wings. The mandatory helmet law is a huge impediment. It increases startup and operating costs, while reducing potential ridership. As to sponsorship: Hello Vancouver — anyone out there?
Vancity should be all over this sponsorship opportunity!
I hear there’s big scrap metal dealer about to sponsor it.
Well, of course cycling is an inherently safe activity but this really shows how the geometry of a bike can influence how safe it can be. These upright style bikes are extremely stable by their nature.
It’s sad that an entire generation grew up thinking a bike specialized for a sport (mountain biking) was normal and the generation before them grew up thinking a different bike specialized for a sport (racing) was normal.
Curious if the bike share is profitable. Not that I’d consider it a failure if it weren’t, but big ridership doesn’t mean profitable.