Lyft will invest $100 million to improve and expand Citi Bike, which over next five years will double its current service area and more than triple its number of bikes to nearly 40,000
Mayor Bill de Blasio today announced that New York City had reached an agreement with Lyft to dramatically expand Citi Bike, the nation’s largest bike share program. As part of the agreement that approves its acquisition of Motivate, Citi Bike’s parent company, Lyft will invest $100 million to improve and strengthen the system – which includes doubling Citi Bike’s service area and tripling the number of bikes in the next five years, making it one of the largest bike share systems in the world. Lyft will continue to expand Citi Bike’s transportation equity efforts, including expanded investment in the $5 monthly bike share memberships available to all SNAP recipients and NYCHA residents.
“New York City is one of the world’s great biking cities – and it’s about to get even better,” saidMayor de Blasio. “This expansion means tens of thousands more New Yorkers are going to have a fast and inexpensive way to get around their city. It also means much more reliable service for all the riders who already use Citi Bike. We welcome Lyft’s investment to make Citi Bike bigger and better. We are ready get to work with communities across the city to make this expansion a success.”
"New York is the greatest city in the world, and its residents deserve a bike sharing system to match," said Deputy Mayor Laura Anglin. "Citi Bike's 150,000 riders can look forward to higher-quality service, new valet and docking stations, and an increase in well-maintained bikes. Today's announcement is a positive step toward our goal of delivering affordable and reliable transportation options that improve quality-of-life."
“We are thrilled to announce that the nation’s largest and most successful bike share system will be growing to reach even more New Yorkers,” said DOT Commissioner Polly Trottenberg. “As a safe, sustainable, and affordable way to get around, cycling in New York City is growing faster than any other mode of travel. And with today’s announcement, riding a Citi Bike will be an even more convenient way to get to a vastly larger share of the City. With some of the changes for Citi Bike coming soon, there may in fact be no better gift this holiday season than a new Citi Bike membership.”
“We are thrilled to partner with New York City to support and substantially grow North America’s largest bike share system,” said Lyft Co-Founder and President John Zimmer. “Together with NYCDOT, we will improve mobility in New York City through an equitable expansion of new and existing technologies. Today’s announcement marks a major milestone in Lyft’s growth as a sustainable transportation service that connects communities, and reduces unnecessary driving in urban centers.”
“Citi Bike has succeeded more than anyone of us could have imagined when it launched five years ago. It is a true public-private partnership and we are proud of our role in helping create what has become a vital, sustainable transportation network and part of the fabric of New York City. The fact that Lyft is willing to make such a large investment in this program shows that we haven’t yet tapped its full potential. We are excited about the future and warmly welcome Lyft as our new partner,” said Ed Skyler, Citi’s Head of Public Affairs.
Highlights of the agreement include:
· Citi Bike will more than triple in size to nearly 40,000 bicycles, and expand by 35 square miles over five years, more than doubling the size of the current service area.
· The geographic boundaries of the expansion will be established in the coming months. Expansion will be accompanied by extensive community and elected official outreach to the selected areas.
· Lyft will immediately invest to restore the existing system to its required fleet level of 12,000 bikes within 90 days of the acquisition (i.e. the end of February).
· The expanded Citi Bike fleet will include both regular and pedal-assist bicycles, which have proven popular and are a component of DOT’s L train tunnel shutdown mitigation plan.
· Lyft will add 12 new valet stations and increase bike and dock availability in the busiest areas to improve system performance.
· The Reduced Fare Bike Share program, presented by Healthfirst, which provides discounted memberships of $5 per month for all NYCHA residents and SNAP recipients will be expanded and enshrined in Lyft’s agreement with the City. The improvement and expansion of Citi Bike will continue to be privately funded with no government subsidy.
· Lyft’s new micro-mobility division in New York City will support over 1,000 full-time living wage jobs.
· The City retains its rights to pilot and implement dockless bike share services outside of the expanded Citi Bike service area, including the ongoing three-borough dockless pilot.
· In addition to the $100 million in capital expenditures over five years, Lyft will also pay associated operating expenses that will be used to improve and expand the system. Lyft will retain the exclusive right to operate bike share within the Citi Bike service area.
"For years, New Yorkers have relied on Citi Bike to be an affordable and convenient way to move around our vast City," said Public Advocate Letitia James. "With this expansion, more of our communities in all parts of the City will have the opportunity to utilize this popular method of transportation. I commend the Department of Transportation, Citi Bike, and Lyft for this important partnership."
“This Citi Bike expansion is welcome news for a city in desperate need of as many mass transit options as possible,” said City Council Speaker Corey Johnson. “In just a few years bike share has become a part of the fabric of New York City, making getting around easier, greener, healthier, and more fun all at once. The main issue was that more people and neighborhoods wanted in on the fun, which is why I am thrilled to hear that Citi Bike will double its geographic coverage and continue to make major investments in accessibility for low income residents. The more New Yorkers who are able to enjoy Citi Bike, the better for all of us and our city.”
