Last Updated on November 13, 2017 by Lawrence Berezin
NYC bike share program officially launched on Memorial day 2013
New York City’s bike share is a privately funded program (Citibank) that launched operations with 6000 branded bikes (Citibank) resting at 330 bike stations across Manhattan and parts of Brooklyn. Mayor Michael Bloomberg described the project as a “big win” for New York.
“It’s going to give New Yorkers another way to get around town by extending connectivity from subway and bus stops. It’s also going to be great for our millions of visitors, allowing them another way to see the city, including making our incredible waterfront more accessible,” he added. [Via skift.com].
8,000 people have already signed up for annual memberships of $95 per year, according to Janette Sadik-Khan. The Memorial Day launch was limited to current members of the bike share program. The program will open to all on June 2, 2013
How will the bike share program affect you?
I’m glad you asked…Various pockets of protest quietly erupted with the launch of this ambitious project. Here are some of the reactions of New Yorkers:
- In the Manhattan neighborhood of Soho, a small group demonstrated at a docking station placed at the site of a small city park once reserved for public artworks. Minerva Durham, 74, treasurer of The Friends of Petrosino Square, said: “I have no concern over whether their programme is successful or not. I favor bicycles, but not at the cost of parks and not the history of Soho.”
- Carl Rosenstein, director of The Puffin Room gallery in Soho also opposes the bike share station: “We don’t have a department of transportation, we have a department of tyranny. We want the bikes moved across the street.”
- Police reported that not all the bike users had signed up for the scheme, with one woman just helping herself to a bike. Officers say the thief struck Sunday night as workers unloaded bikes at 25th Street and Second Avenue.
- Residents have expressed dismay at their locations, their size and the ubiquity of a corporate logo from the program’s lead sponsor, Citibank.
- Testifying on Thursday before the City Council’s committees on transportation and finance, Ms. Sadik-Khan faced questions about the system’s effect on parking spaces for vehicles. With bike stations often located on sidewalks and at the edge of public parks, she said, less than 1 percent of the city’s parking spaces were compromised.
- “One percent sounds like a little,” replied Councilman Domenic M. Recchia Jr. of Brooklyn, the chairman of the Finance Committee. “But I want to know, how many spots did you take away?” (This figure has not yet been released by NYC)
- Earlier in the hearing, Councilman Ydanis Rodriguez of Upper Manhattan had a different concern. “On bike share, are we getting anything?” he asked. Ms. Sadik-Khan said his area was not on the first map of stations.
[Via NY Times].
The NY Times bike share derby
What a creative, multi-media, way to tell the public about how the bike share program works. You’ve got to check out the “Bike Share Derby” and let me know what you think about NYC Bike Share Program meets Google Glass.
Check out this video of the bright, new, shiny blue, bikes
Here’s a Map of the Bike Share stations
Simply click on this link and you’ll be whisked to this interactive Citi bike map of the locations of a bike station nearest you. When you arrive, hover your mouse over the pretty blue icons to learn the location of the bike station.
Commentary
This is a wonderful accomplishment for the proponents of alternate types of transportation in urban environments at the cost of parking spaces for passenger and commercial vehicles. On which side of the fence do you park your seat?
Please comment and let me know your thoughts about the Bike Share Program. Do you think any of the complaints listed above are justified? How does it impact your business? Will you join?
Check out the beautiful, new, website of a wonderful friend of New York Parking Ticket LLC, Margot Tohn. You’ll find an incredible helpful information about the NYC parking scene. Why not “bike” on over now.
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