Michael just sent me this photo of New York City's much-debated new shared rental bikes. (The racks are everywhere, but this is the first I've seen of the actual bicycles.) Citi Bike(s) will run you $95 annually for unlimited 45-minute rides, $9.95 (plus tax!) for 24 hours, or $25( plus tax) for a weekly pass.
The Daily News reports that supporters see Citi Bike as a welcome transportation alternative to crowded subways and buses that will improve the quality of life for both residents and tourists. Critics have an equal number of complaints and concerns, ranging from the ability of paramedics to access buildings in emergencies to dogs' attraction to the docking stations as an ideal place to relieve themselves.
"They pee on these things and they use them for their natural needs, and it's harder to clean them than to clean a street," lawyer Jeffrey Barr said.Frankly, given how much money the government has given Citibank in recent years, I think they should be making these availble for free as a way of saying thank you.
Will you use?
8 comments:
Chicago is rolling out something similar, but only $75 a year or $7 a day. We're calling it Divvy (http://www.divvybikes.com/), at least until some advertiser comes in to brand it. Citi Divvy, anyone?
I haven't seen the bike racks yet, but I've been told they're out there. I live downtown, so I walk everywhere -- don't have much need for bikes. The city's installing protected bike lanes all over the place, and there's a noticeable increase in cyclists downtown, so it'll be interesting to see how that works out.
Sooooo much more expensive than the program in Paris.
Oh my NO. As someone who uses car service whenever I am cursed to be in NYC, I can't imagine biking there. That city is just not made for biking. Same for DC (nothing against your brother). Pac NW is the best for biking, but I have also biked Boston safely.
They want to bring a similar program to Phoenix: http://downtowndevil.com/2013/02/21/40502/phoenix-bicycle-sharing-program/. Not sure how that would fly here.
Ive used the systems in Monteral and Boston - and never NEAR that price, btw - and they are great.
I'm not sure why it's a much debated system. It got me around both towns quite well.
We have a similar program in Miami Beach and the success has helped expand them into the City of Miami. Tourist and locals use them all the time, on really beautiful days it is sometimes hard to hind a bike to rent!
Think of how few cab rides (often slower than a bike jaunt in Manhattan traffic) it would take to get to $95 in a year.
It's not for everybody, but it's great. I scarcely even miss the perfect D.C. bus route that they took away from my corner.
Have been hugely successful in DC for last few years...
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