Press Releases

Dockless Bike Share Update: DOT Announces That Citi Bike Will Join Pilot Program This Summer in the Bronx

Dockless Citi Bikes will be on streets of Fordham neighborhood by mid-August; Withdrawal from the pilot by another company, ofo, led to the change

The New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) today announced that Citi Bike, operated by Motivate, will take the place of ofo in DOT’s current pilot of dockless bike share in the Bronx neighborhoods near Fordham University. Last week, ofo had announced that it was ceasing most of its North American operations. The Bronx pilot is scheduled to roll out later this month as bikes from JUMP arrive in the community; 200 pedal-assist JUMP bikes will be supplemented by 200 dockless Citi Bikes expected to arrive in the pilot area by mid-August. Citi Bike had previously been assigned to the Coney Island pilot launching later this year.

“We were so pleased that our old colleagues from Citi Bike were able to step up and move to our dockless pilot in the Bronx,” said DOT Commissioner Polly Trottenberg. “Along with JUMP, Motivate will help make sure that the Bronx soon sees two well-established companies providing bikes in the weeks ahead. With the Rockaways already embracing dockless bike share, and bikes arriving on Staten Island very soon, we cannot wait to expand the pilot and bring bike share to the Bronx for the very first time this summer. And of course, we look forward to getting the community’s feedback. ”

“We’re thrilled to bring Citi Bike to more New Yorkers than ever, not only through the Bronx pilot, but through the newly expanded equity program that gives low-income New Yorkers access to $5 a month Citi Bike memberships,” said Jay Walder, President and CEO of Motivate, the operator of Citi Bike. “With more than 60 million rides and counting, there’s no other way to get around New York that is as affordable, healthy, and fun as Citi Bike.”

This announcement comes on the heels of the recent expansion of low-cost Citi Bike memberships for low-income New Yorkers. Both SNAP recipients and NYCHA residents can now become Citi Bike members for $5 a month, which includes unlimited rides throughout the entire Citi Bike system -- including the pilot area. Current annual Citi Bike members will be able to unlock and take unlimited 45-minute rides on the dockless bikes, although these bikes must remain within the Bronx pilot area. Bronx Citi Bike riders will also have a pay-per-ride option, at $2 per half-hour trip.

The Fordham area of the Bronx will be the third of four areas where dockless bike share rolls out this summer. On July 13th, the Rockaways became the first community to host dockless bikes, with the companies Lime and Pace providing coverage. Later this month, the bike share pilot will expand as bikes arrive on the North Shore of Staten Island, with bikes provided by JUMP and Lime. Later this year, Coney Island in Brooklyn will also host a pilot with dockless bikes supplied by operators to be determined (see earlier announcements here and here).

About Citi Bike:
Citi Bike is New York City’s bike share system, and the largest and most successful in the nation. Since its launch in 2013, Citi Bike has expanded to 12,000 bikes at more than 750 stations and has become a fun, affordable, and integral part of New York’s transportation network, with more than 60 million rides taken to date. Operated by Motivate, North America’s bike share leader, Citi Bike consists of a fleet of specially designed, durable bikes that are locked into a network of stations in more than sixty neighborhoods across three boroughs. Customers can download the Citi Bike app to unlock bikes, find real-time station information, and see individualized statistics including miles traveled, calories burned, and CO2 reduced. Learn more at https://www.citibikenyc.com/.

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