The mayor’s office recently announced its plan to install 10,000 bicycles at a total of 600 bike share stations throughout the city in July, and yesterday, the look of the bike share was revealed. They’re basically electric-blue Citibank ads on wheels. Citibank invested $41 million in the bike share program, to be called “Citi Bikes.”
And the bikes ain’t cheap. As New York Magazine reports, it probably makes more sense to take the train. After your $95 yearly membership or $25.00 weekly membership, or $9.95 one-day fee, riding the bike is free. For a half hour. (Forty-five minutes, if you’re a yearly member). After that, another half hour is $4.00, another hour is $13.00, and another 90 minutes is $25.00, with each 30 minutes after that running $12.00. That is to say, a full day of bike riding will cost a total of $154.95. Yeesh.
In an email, Robert Lederman pointed out that the vending stations for the bike share have been allotted the same placement that is now used by street vendors—that is, 20 feet from a door on a sidewalk that’s at least 12 feet wide. Lederman, who has twice filed free-speech suits against the city of New York for encroaching on the rights of street art vendors, objects to the notion of the city snatching up hundreds of choice vending locations for what amounts to advertising for a giant corporation. And I don’t think he’s wrong.
Previous Post Next Post
New York City’s Bike Share is Sort of Shady
By Jane-Claire Quigley |
8 Responses to “New York City’s Bike Share is Sort of Shady”
Leave a Reply
So, let's get this straight: that much scratch WITH a corporate sponsor?? Someone's getting shafted here, and it ain't the pimping city or tax-evader profiteers citibank… another greedy deal set up by his royal highness, Michael the 1st…
Its the same system as in london (where it is also sponsored by a huge corporate bank, Barclays), The solution is simple, you just have to park it at another station within the half hour, as long as the stations are numerous enough its no problem. They aren't designed to be all day bike rentals, they are designed to be a supplement to commuters, a quick way to get from point A to point B as an alternative to cabs or the train.
Granted the daily/weekly/annual membership fee is much less (approx 10x/5x/2x respectively) in the UK I suspect the local government also pitched in way more money to float the project.
(not that I don't still think its shady)
Too expensive. You could buy a decent bike for one day's (or two) use! Certainly someone smart (or not) approved these prices??!! Come on NYC, it needs to be cheaper if you want this to take off!
Wow, I'm commenting on a blog! I must be over enthused right now. Here's my helpful insight into this matter, having helped launch B-cycle, a competing bike-sharing system:
This is a bike-sharing system. Not a bike rental shop for a day trip out to Storm King. It's a different way to get to Whole Foods and back. You leave your apartment, grab a bike, ride for ten minutes for free. Park the bike. Buy over-priced orange juice. And then take another bike to get back home for free. You could take a cab for maybe five bucks or the subway for a couple bucks, but hey, it's nice out and your fat ass is already feeling better about yourself.
The high fees on trips over 30 minutes are there to keep bikes circulating. If people just spent all day lollygagging around without a care in the world, when you showed up to get a bike, there wouldn't be any available.
It's a system that's been completely thought out by people a lot smarter than the frequenters of Animal, myself included.
You're totally right: bike share is expensive if you use the same bike all day. Same with Zipcars and taxis. You're most likely missing the point if you do that.
Bike share is designed for short commutes and trips, not all day adventures. The first 30-45 minutes are free to encourage people to return the bike and then grab a new one when they're ready to start pedaling again. Rent a bike from a shop if you want to hold on to one for the day.
Even if its meant to be for shorter commutes, still too expensive! Subways are overcrowded during peak hours and traffic is congested, so its in everyones’ interest to have bike commuters. Bikes, unlike subway teains, are cheap. Someone is profitting at the expense of a sensible transportation infrastructure. Privatization and the free market are good for some things, but this is wasted potential.
I use the similar bikeshare system in DC often and it's $75/year. Totally worth it. I rarely go over the allotted 30 minute "free" ride and I use it all the time when I'm going somewhere there isn't a convenient bus, or I don't want to wait for the bus, or it's just a nice day and I want to get a little exercise while I'm out. If you want the bike for longer, you can just check it in when you pass a bikeshare station (every 30 minutes or whatever) and keep riding without paying extra. It's great.
Nice Ride in Minneapolis is 5 bucks for 30 minutes and if you get to the next station within that time period, the ride is free. That's the way to encourage people to use them for short trips. Not astronomical prices. Of course this is NYC we're talking about, where they do things back assward.