Press Releases
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press Release #20-021
Wednesday, April 29, 2020
Contact: Scott Gastel/Brian Zumhagen (646) 574-2429
NYC DOT and Lyft Announce Expansion of Citi Bike in Upper Manhattan and the Bronx
Expansion beginning the week of May 4th will include more than 100 stations, with docks serving health-care workers at Harlem Hospital in Manhattan and Lincoln Hospital in the Bronx
New York City Department of Transportation Commissioner Polly Trottenberg announced today that Lyft will begin Bronx and Upper Manhattan expansion the week of May 4th, with more than 100 new stations – including those serving medical and other essential workers outside Lincoln Hospital in the Bronx and Harlem Hospital in Manhattan.
“As New York City continues its hard work to get through and emerge from the COVID-19 crisis, we are happy to be able to deliver some undeniably good news: Upper Manhattan and the Bronx will see new Citi Bike stations in the coming days, including docks outside two critical H&H institutions — Lincoln and Harlem Hospitals,” said DOT Commissioner Polly Trottenberg. “We thank Lyft for their commitment to building out the bike share network— and the local groups and residents in these neighborhoods who helped us select the best station locations.”
“Many New Yorkers who need to complete essential trips are relying upon Citi Bike during this unprecedented moment, and we are proud to expand Citi Bike service to more neighborhoods in Upper Manhattan and the Bronx beginning next week,” said Caroline Samponaro, Head of Micrombolity and Transit Policy at Lyft, the operator of Citi Bike. “Especially important will be the new Citi Bike stations outside Harlem Hospital and Lincoln Hospital, which will provide staff there with a new commute option as they serve the public on the frontlines during the COVID crisis.”
The ongoing expansion, which will double the current service area and triple the number of available bikes to 40,000 in the coming years, will bring docked bike share to the Bronx for the first time, with stations in the South Bronx along with expanded service in Manhattan from the current northern boundary at 130th Street to 155th Street.
The new station locations were selected with input from NYC DOT’s Suggest-A-Station online portal as well as multiple in-person community workshops co-hosted last fall by NYC DOT, Citi Bike, and Bronx Community Board 1 and Manhattan Community Boards 9, 10, and 11.
During the COVID-19 crisis, Citi Bike data has shown a significant increase in the popularity of stations outside hospitals, as commute patterns have shifted and hospital personnel turn to biking as an option that allows them to travel while practicing social-distancing. Currently, the Citi Bike Critical Workforce Membership Program gives healthcare providers, along with transit workers and first-responders, a free Citi Bike membership. New Yorkers who live in NYCHA developments or receive SNAP benefits can also join Citi Bike for only $5 a month, as part of the Reduced Fare Bike Share Program, presented by Healthfirst.
“Citi Bike's expansion into northern Manhattan can not come at a more crucial time as more and more New Yorkers turn to biking as a safe form of transportation," said Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer. "I thank DOT and Lyft for their hard work in expanding bike share throughout Manhattan and look forward to its continued expansion further north in the coming months.”
“We welcome the expansion of Citi Bike to underserved communities in New York City, something that we have been calling on for years. I thank DOT and Citi Bike for their efforts in bringing this transportation alternative to Northern Manhattan and the South Bronx where it is much needed,” said Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez, Chairman of the Transportation Committee. “I hope that soon we will also be able to access Citi Bike around the Allen Pavilion Hospital, Bronx-Lebanon Hospital, and other outer-boroughs neighborhoods across the City. As we expand access to this initiative to all New Yorkers, I will continue advocating for the expansion of the Fair Fares program to also include Citi Bike as a discounted service.”
“The COVID-19 crisis has underlined the health disparities that the Bronx has fought against for so long,” said Senator José M. Serrano. “Access to bike sharing will not only help New Yorkers safely commute during the current pandemic, but improve our health and well-being and enhance our quality of life in the long-term. A truly successful bike share program must link the entire city, and this expansion is an important step toward ensuring transportation equity across all of our neighborhoods. Many thanks to Commissioner Polly Trottenberg and Lyft for prioritizing this vital expansion.”
“Now more than ever, it is vital that New Yorkers, especially those living and working in the communities of Northern Manhattan, have access to safe and efficient transportation options that allow them to comply with social-distancing recommendations,” said Council Member Mark Levine. “Expanding the Citi Bike program further into Northern Manhattan is a huge step forward in providing these underserved communities with a way to carry-out necessary activities like grocery shopping and accessing social services and helping our frontline workers to perform their heroic duties without further exposing the community to COVID-19. This is an extremely timely and strategic announcement and I applaud Lyft for helping New Yorkers during this crisis.”
New Yorkers have a chance to learn more about the Citi Bike expansion to the Bronx, Roosevelt Island, and Upper Manhattan at a Virtual Town Hall on Wednesday, April 29th at 5:30 PM. The event will be co-hosted by the NYC Department of Transportation and El Barrio Bikes. Registration is at https://bit.ly/CitiTownhall2.
Citi Bike maps
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