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NYC Bike Share Debuts Next Month But You Can Buy A Membership Now
By
Lauren Evans
Published Apr 15, 2013
Modified Apr 15, 2013
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By
Lauren Evans
Published Apr 15, 2013
Modified Apr 15, 2013
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The long awaited Citibike program, which faced setbacks first from computer glitches and then Hurricane Sandy, will be rolled out at 330 stations in May, DOT Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan told a group of reporters in DUMBO this morning. "When in May?" you, and everyone else asked inquired, persistently. "In May," she said firmly.
"We’re continuing to roll out the system and get the stations in," Sadik-Khan said, adding that around 55 are already in place. The commissioner would also like for everyone to please stop their grousing since, in the scheme of things, May really isn't so bad.
"We’re looking at 2 1/2 years to put down a brand new transportation system in the streets of New York," she said. "You couldn’t get a subway system put in in 2 1/2 years—you couldn’t even get a brand new bus program put in in 2 1/2 years, so this is incredible."
Deputy Mayor Howard Wolfson agreed, saying that once Citibike is finally rolled out, no one will particularly care that it was a year few months behind schedule. “Nobody’s going to say, 'Oh, I wish it had been a year earlier, or 'Why wasn’t it in March?'" he said. "They will be happy to have it, they will be using it and it will be an enormously successful program."
Despite not knowing when exactly the program will roll out (May), the bright side is that Citbike is officially accepting your money! An annual membership will set you back $95, but will get you a full year's worth of "unlimited free rides lasting 45 minutes or less." So don't think you can take the thing out for an afternoon joy-ride because that is not what Citibike is for. The first 5,000 people to sign up will also get a "Founding Member Key," which looks for all the world like a blue piece of plastic, as well as a coupon for $10 off one of three types of helmet.
A total of 6,000 bikes will populate 330 stations in the initial roll-out (an increase from the 293 stations reported last month), spanning from east of 59th Street in Manhattan, to Downtown Brooklyn, Bed-Stuy and several points west.
Those concerned about the repercussions of ejecting thousands of novice cyclists onto city streets need not be, Sadik-Khan said. "These are sturdy, heavy bikes, and we don’t think people are going to be riding on them really really fast," she said, adding that helmets, while encouraged, are not required. "When you think about the hygiene side of it, putting on someone else’s helmet is probably not that appealing." Speaking of not appealing: Could now finally be the time for the neck airbag? We'll find out...in May.
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