Citi cyclists receive poor service, research shows
The findings: The Citi Bike service is unreliable.
The report from the office of New York City Comptroller Brad Lander found that cyclists are sometimes unable to return their bikes because docking stations are full. Others encounter empty stations or find broken bicycles.
The report shows that problems are worst in neighborhoods largely populated by Black, Latino and low-income residents on the city’s outer edges.
The trend was most noticeable in the Sunset Park, Flatbush and Crown Heights neighborhoods, according to an analysis by the comptroller in June and July. The Bronx had more unusable stations compared to other boroughs. Citi Bike is operated by Lyft, the ride-hailing company, and regulated by the city’s transportation department.
Why it matters: Citi Bike has become essential for getting around.
The bike share program has exploded in popularity over the past decade, but has struggled to meet demand.
According to the comptroller’s research, cyclists will take 30 million trips with Citi Bike by 2022 – five times as many as when the system launched in 2013.
In the report, Mr. Lander said that “maintaining Citi Bike as a high-quality transportation service is a matter of public interest.”
Quotation Quote: Citi Bike disputes the findings.
In a statement, Citi Bike questioned the accuracy of the report.
The service provider also noted that the report focused on data from June and July rather than a more comprehensive time frame of system performance.
It noted that the Bronx had the second-highest access of any borough in September and October. Queens was first.
The company also noticed this earlier this month it announced plans to more than double its fleet of electronic bicycles to meet rising demand.
“An expanded service area and unprecedented ridership – all in the wake of a global pandemic and a changing commute landscape – have brought new challenges that require creative solutions,” said Jordan Levine, a Lyft spokesperson.
The city’s transportation department said it would review the report.
Background: Citi Bike is legally required to maintain its fleet.
The analysis by Mr. Lander’s office found 11,000 cases in which stations remained unusable for at least an hour. In 2018, Citi Bike experienced a significant drop in service, with only 57 percent of bikes available to riders due to repair needs, even though the company is contractually obligated to keep 97 percent of its fleet available.
The comptroller, who serves as the city’s chief financial officer, criticized the transportation department for not issuing fines to Citi Bike.
Mr. Lander said the company’s violations could have amounted to millions in fines that the city could have collected.
What’s next: City officials want Citi Bike to take action.
Mr. Lander’s office recommended that the city revise its contract with Lyft to include stricter performance standards, as well as oversight and incentives for achieving them. His report also encouraged the company to report more detailed performance data.