After several delays and setbacks, New York’s new bike share system, CitiBike, will finally become a reality next month. The May 2013 launch date has been firm for a long time, yet it was still a relief when the first bike dock stations started appearing in Brooklyn. Doug over at Brooklyn Spoke has a good write-up on how New York bike share will work. Yesterday I rode out to see a couple of the newly installed stations for myself.
The first CitiBike station I arrived at was at Hancock St and Bedford Ave in Bedford-Stuyvesant. The station consists of docks for 27 bikes (the bikes themselves won’t arrive until closer to the launch date). The docks are angled at a 45 degree angle in order to take up less sidewalk space.
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I was not the only curious New Yorker snapping photos. I had a brief conversation with Sawandi, the guy in this photo. He told me he currently does not ride a bike but was really excited about the prospect of becoming a CitiBike member (membership is $95/year and grants unlimited free rides lasting 45 minutes or less). He currently drives to work and spending on gas is making him unhappy.
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One side of the station has very useful maps (oriented based on the way you’re facing when reading them). The other side is for advertising. I feel like CitiBike’s marketing is spot-on here. Cycling really does open up New York in a way no other transport can..jpg)
All that’s missing now is the blue bikes. In the meantime, I supplied my own.
Curious about what the bike share experience is like? Check out my review of London’s bike share system.