Following recent reports outlining a proposal to bring Citi Bike to all five boroughs, including the Bronx and Staten Island for the first time, Council Transportation Chair Ydanis Rodriguez issued this statement in support:
"Having long advocated for the expansion of Citi Bike into more communities, I am strongly supportive of any effort that achieves this goal. This is a system that has proven beneficial to so many New Yorkers, offering an affordable, efficient and healthy option to areas fortunate enough to have it. Ensuring equity in any future expansion, which operators Motivate have pledged to do, can be transformative for many communities lacking quality transit options.
The reported proposal, which continues the original financing model using no public funds, while adding another 6,000 bikes--50% of the current total today--seems a quality deal for the city. While I have called for public funding to be included to ensure expansion continues, I appreciate the willingness for Motivate to be creative so long as the financial health of the system can be maintained. At the same time, the devil is in the details and I am fully confident that NYC DOT and the de Blasio Administration will work out a plan that benefits the most New Yorkers, after years of successful partnership in making Citi Bike successful. This is a network that offers quality union jobs, has an excellent safety record, and is getting New Yorkers around without street-clogging cars. I encourage the two sides in this conversation to come to a deal soon so there is no hitch in Citi Bike's expansion. My uptown community wants it, the Bronx wants it and Staten Island wants it; now let's get it done."
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