Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 24, 2015
Dani Simons, media@motivateco.com; (347) 916-0215
Scott Gastel/Bonny Tsang, sgastel@dot.nyc.gov/btsang@dot.nyc.gov; (212) 839-4850
Andrew Brent, andrew.brent@citi.com; (212) 559-1299
Madeline Kaye, Madeline.Kaye@berlinrosen.com; (646) 200-5297

Citi Bike® Program Expansion to Begin in August

System to expand to Queens for first time, double in size over next two years

First station to be installed beginning in early August, as part of a larger effort to bring the system to scale across New York City

New York, NY – New York City Department of Transportation Commissioner Polly Trottenberg and Motivate CEO Jay Walder today announced that Citi Bike expansion will begin in early August with a first wave of new stations including stations in Long Island City, Williamsburg, Greenpoint, and Bedford Stuyvesant. The announcement is the first phase of a dramatic expansion plan that will double the size of the popular bike share network from 6,000 to 12,000 bikes over the course of two years as it grows across New York City.

“This is the start of something big. Citi Bike is rolling into the outer boroughs like never before. That means hundreds of thousands more New Yorkers will have a fast, sustainable, low-cost transportation option. We are thrilled to work with Motivate on the next phase of this great success story,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio.

“With over 19 million trips, it is clear that New Yorkers love Citi Bike and we are excited to see the network double in size, expanding to Queens, more of Brooklyn, and upper Manhattan,” said DOT Commissioner Polly Trottenberg.  “I thank Mayor Bill de Blasio for his leadership and the Motivate team for working hard to make this expansion happen less than a year after we first announced this great development.”

“Citi Bike is already the largest and most popular bike share system in the country –  now more New Yorkers than ever will be able to travel when and where they want with the flexibility and convenience of Citi Bike,” said Jay Walder, President and CEO of Motivate, which operates Citi Bike. “This is the next step in our commitment to deliver a bigger and better Citi Bike with updated technology, a new and improved bicycle and now hundreds of new stations. We are hard at work continuing to improve Citi Bike and ensuring that it is accessible to more communities around the city.”

The expansion is supported by an increased sponsorship commitment from Citi of up to $70.5 million extended through 2024.

“We are thrilled to enable the expansion of Citi Bike and bring the blue bikes to new neighborhoods and new riders,” said Citi Head of Public Affairs Edward Skyler. “We have seen only the beginning of what Citi Bike can do to ease transportation, help New Yorkers live healthier lives and make our city more sustainable, and we are proud to help fulfill its far-reaching promise.”

The first wave of station installations will include 91 new stations in Bedford Stuyvesant, Williamsburg, Greenpoint and Long Island City, followed by an additional 48 stations on the Upper East and Upper West Sides, from 59th Street to 86th Street, starting in the fall.  DOT and Motivate arrived at the station locations through more than a hundred meetings with the public and community stakeholders through the course of several years.

To prepare for expansion, Motivate replaced the software that powers Citi Bike, replaced software and hardware at all existing stations and docking points and has added 1,000 new and upgraded bikes to its fleet starting at the end of June, and will bring an additional 1,400 into circulation this summer to stock expansion stations.  Developed in partnership with Olympic bike designer Ben Serotta, the bikes offer a series of new features and comforts including higher-quality parts and upgraded seats to prevent water from pooling when it rains.  The end result is that each bike will spend more time on the street and less in the repair shop.

“I used to spend months building one perfect custom bike at a time, so it’s been thrilling to see tens of thousands of people embracing a bike custom made for everyone,” said Ben Serotta. “I’m excited for more and more New Yorkers to experience a new type of bike share bike that we created together with the mechanics at Motivate.”

As Motivate leadership looks towards a bigger and better Citi Bike, the company is also working hard to ensure that every New Yorker has access to a robust transportation network regardless of income or zip code. In Bedford Stuyvesant, the Citi Bike program and the Department of Transportation are partnering with local non-profit Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation to conduct community outreach, including bike safety classes and free helmet giveaways. Discounted Citi Bike memberships are also available to residents of affordable housing developments, and free access to community-based organizations for group rides.  Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation is one of six national recipients of funding to increase equity in bike share through the Better Bike Share Partnership.

“With 26 new Citi Bike stations in Bed Stuy, residents will have expanded opportunities to get active, live healthier lifestyles, conserve their environment, save money, and experience their city in a new way,” said Tracy Capers, EVP Programs, Organizational Development of Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation. “Restoration is excited to partner with Citi Bike on this exciting effort in order to ensure that Bed Stuy’s residents take advantage of this resource right in their backyard.  We are particularly hopeful that this expansion will result in increased utilization by the entire community, particularly residents of color and low income populations.”

“Increased connectivity is fundamental to the growth and development of New York City and I’m thrilled to learn that our bike sharing system is finally arriving in Western Queens,” said Rep. Joe Crowley (D-Queens, the Bronx). “It’s imperative that we continue to make these types of investments to meet the needs of those communities with limited transportation options. That’s why I’ve also introduced my Bike to Work Act that would allow workers to also use their pre-tax commuter benefits for bike share programs like Citi Bike. I thank the City for their commitment to expanding the program to the outer boroughs and offering an affordable option for commuters that also promotes health and wellness.”

“I am an avid Citi Bike rider, and the expansion of stations into Bedford-Stuyvesant, Greenpoint, and Williamsburg will expand opportunities for me and my fellow Brooklyn cyclists to take to the streets. Bike riding is more than recreation; it is daily transportation for an increasing number of commuters. Partners like Citi Bike and the New York City Department of Transportation are to be commended for their continued commitment to cycling,” said Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams.

“Citi Bike has become a crucial new addition to our city’s transportation network for many New Yorkers, and it’s high time to provide more residential neighborhoods with access to it,” said Manhattan Borough President Gale A. Brewer. “I will continue to work with the Department of Transportation and Motivate to ensure bike stations are sited in appropriate locations with community input. The system will work best for our neighborhoods when it works with our neighborhoods.”

“Citi Bike is a great program and I am glad to see it heading further uptown, helping to diversify transportation options for more New Yorkers. In the near future, I hope to see bike stations stretching up to Inwood and across the Harlem River to the Bronx,” said State Senator Adriano Espaillat (D-Manhattan/Bronx).

“I applaud Mayor de Blasio and DOT Commissioner Trottenberg for expanding the Citi Bike program to even more neighborhoods, including ones in the outer boroughs. Thousands of riders use Citi Bike for a cleaner, healthier, and more environmentally friendly mode of transportation. Our City has so much to offer and I am thrilled that by doubling the amount of Citi Bikes in the next two years, even more New Yorkers will have an opportunity to hop on a Citi Bike and get to their destination,” said State Senator Jose M. Serrano.

“The long-awaited arrival of Citi Bike in Long Island City is great news. Bike share will allow the people to enjoy our neighborhood in a healthy, fun way and facilitate easier travel around western Queens, an area in dire need of better mass transit,” said State Senator Michael Gianaris. “I am thrilled to see western Queens being given the opportunity to enjoy the benefits of Citi Bike and look forward to its further expansion into more of our neighborhoods.”

“I am thrilled that Citi Bike is expanding further into my district. With the population explosion in Williamsburg and Greenpoint we need all the transportation options we can get,” said Assembly Member Joseph R. Lentol. “The New York City Department of Transportation surely sees the benefits of expanding the transportation network for cyclists, as witnessed with the upcoming Pulaski Bridge dedicated bike lane and the newly installed Greenpoint Avenue Bridge bike lane. Not only does this help people connect to other transportation options, it also promotes the live/work community that Williamsburg and Greenpoint has become. I commend Commissioner Trottenberg for realizing the importance of cycling to my constituents, and the city as a whole.”

“Citi Bike’s first two years of operations have been a clear success for biking in New York,” said Assembly Member Dan Quart. “I’m happy to see Mayor de Blasio and DOT Commissioner Trottenberg strengthen and expand this program, bringing biking to even more New Yorkers.”

“This next phase of the Citi Bike expansion is exciting, as we are working to give more neighborhoods in New York access to an affordable transportation option that reduces congestion and is environmentally friendly,” said Assembly Member Robert Rodriguez. “We are looking forward to making Citi Bike accessible to every New Yorker.”

“I welcome the expansion of the Citi Bike program to neighborhoods like the Upper West Side,” said Assembly Member Richard Gottfried. “It’s great that more New Yorkers and visitors to the city will soon enjoy access to a healthy, environmentally friendly transportation option of traveling around the five boroughs on two wheels.”

“For years I have fought to bring Citi Bike to Queens and I’m proud to say that the blue bikes will be here soon,” said New York City Council Majority Leader Jimmy Van Bramer. “Cycling in Western Queens has become extremely popular and the addition of 12 new Citi Bike docking stations add a much-needed alternative mode of transportation to an area of the borough that is growing and vibrant, and in need of more transportation options. I applaud the Administration, DOT and CEO Jay Walder of Motivate for giving the expansion of Citi Bike the push it needed to get these beautiful blue bikes onto our streets. As we work to expand Citi Bike further throughout the City I look forward to working with Motivate and DOT to ensure the communities of Astoria, Sunnyside and Woodside have the access to our nation’s largest bike sharing network.”

“I have been thrilled to see Citi Bike welcomed as an alternative mode of transportation by many New Yorkers. This new expansion of Citi Bike will bring it to even more neighborhoods that are hungry for bike share. Citi Bike is a healthy commuting option that should be available to all New Yorkers, including neighborhoods in uptown Manhattan,” said Council Member Mark Levine.

“Citi Bike’s bike share will help improve commutes for Upper East Siders by providing a new option to connect with far-off transportation hubs,” said Council Member Ben Kallos, a founding member of Citi Bike. “It is great to see Citi Bike expand to the Upper East Side and include it as part of the city’s larger bike share infrastructure.  Thank you to Mayor Bill de Blasio, DOT Commissioner Polly Trottenberg and Manhattan Borough Commissioner Margaret Forgione for working with Community Board 8 and our office for a bike share system that was shaped by the community into plan that will benefit the neighborhood.”

“This expansion is a win for Greenpoint and Williamsburg. The Citi Bike program opens up new ways for New Yorkers to get around the city and is especially valuable in communities that are underserved by other forms of public transportation. I’m excited that more residents of my district will soon be able to enjoy this innovative service,” said Council Member Stephen Levin.

“I am excited for the expansion of Citi Bike further into the boroughs, especially into Williamsburg in my district. This expansion helps us further integrate cycling into our city’s transportation system, giving more New Yorkers a healthy and sustainable option,” said Council Member Antonio Reynoso.

Since Motivate took over operation of the Citi Bike program earlier this year with financial backing from the CEOs of Equinox, Related Companies and other private investors, the system has already seen major improvements in ease of use for riders.  This has resulted in a 40 percent decrease in call volume (May and June 2014 vs. May and June 2015) to its Customer Service Call Center revealing growing customer satisfaction.

For more details about Citi Bike’s expansion visit www.citibikenyc.com/expansion.

Neighborhood Citi Bike Stations to be installed in 2015
Long Island City 12
Greenpoint 20
Williamsburg 33
Bedford Stuyvesant 26
Upper East Side 27
Upper West Side 21

Map of current service ares and expansion areas for the Citibike Program Expansion Area Summer 2015

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ABOUT THE CITI BIKE PROGRAM:
The Citi Bike program is New York’s bike share system with thousands of bikes at hundreds of stations every few blocks in Manhattan below 59th Street; in the Brooklyn neighborhoods of Brooklyn Heights, Bedford-Stuyvesant, Williamsburg, Clinton Hill, Fort Greene and DUMBO; and coming soon to Long Island City, Greenpoint, the Upper East and Upper West Sides. Annual members receive an electronic key to undock a bike from any station, allowing unlimited trips up to 45 minutes without incurring any additional costs. Twenty-four-hour and seven-day access passes are available for purchase at any Citi Bike station and provide unlimited 30-minute trips. There have been over 19 million trips on Citi Bike since the program launched in 2013.
Citibike, DOT and Motivate Logos

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