Industrialized Cyclist Notepad


New Yorker’s CitiBike Cover

Painfully slow rollout of NYC’s Citibike rental scheme is here, maybe. Lock up your daughters!

Interesting the artist put a helmet on the outside rider. Wonder if he/she was told to do that.

via http://publicbikeshare.com/2013/05/28/public-bike-share-a-picture-says-1000-words/

newyorkercitibike

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Citi Bike hotter than Bieber

The NYC bike share saga has been interesting and is still unfolding. No doubt there are myriad individuals and groups working to undermine it and exerting pressure in various ways. Sure ‘bike sharing’ sounds swell to you and me, but how does it sound to the Transit Authority? The taxi companies and drivers? The tour bus operators? The rich, elderly, politically-connected pedestrians who hate bicyclists with a passion? And when it’s all said and done Citibank, of all zombie institutions, holds the keys. So …

Don’t count your NY bike share chickens before they hatch.

In a sign of excitement about the city’s new bike share program, which is set to launch next month, Citi Bike sold out of its first 5,000 memberships in less than 30 hours.

via Citi Bike sells out 'founding' keys in 30 hours | Crain's New York Business.



NYC Bike Rental Program Not Ready For Launch
August 18, 2012, 11:33
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Pushed back to 2013… Interesting.

“New York City demands a world-class bike share system, and we need to ensure that Citi Bike launches as flawlessly as New Yorkers expect on Day One,” said DOT Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan. “The enthusiasm for this program continues to grow and we look forward to bringing this affordable new transportation option to New Yorkers without cost to taxpayers.”

via NYC DOT – Press Releases – NYC DOT, NYC Bike Share Announce March 2013 Citi Bike Launch.



More Bike Rental Headline Scaremongering

Whereas, if you look at the actual facts presented in this USA Today article, the bike share program in question is incredibly safe.

Washington’s Capital Bikeshare program began in September 2010, has grown to include more than 1,500 bicycles and recently recorded its 2 millionth ride. At the same time, bicycle-related accidents have increased on city D.C. roads.

Bicycle-related accidents have increased from 312 in 2009 to 601 in 2011, according to the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department. Pedestrian-related accidents also rose from 657 in 2009 to 935 in 2011.

Chris Holben , a bicycle program specialist for the District Department of Transportation, says Washington has actually become safer since the number of people riding their bikes has increased. He said only 24 Bikeshare crashes have been reported to police since the program stated.

So that’s roughly 1 reported crash per 100,000 trips! And even those are likely to be minor crashes. Oooh, danger. Hope they’re all wearing their helmets…

Now check out the headline:

via Bike sharing stokes conflict between drivers, cyclists – USATODAY.com.



Bikepocalypse imminent
June 21, 2012, 20:40
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I enjoyed the weirdly negative headline on this Bloomberg article, and the way they got the ‘rental’ part right for once.

NYC Risks ‘Bikelash’ as 10,000 Rental Cycles Hit Streets – Bloomberg.



NYC Bike-Sharing Program Now Too Big to Fail

The Citi Bike program…He heh… Life is funny.

Citigroup Inc. (C) agreed to pay $41 million to sponsor New York City’s bicycle-rental program, which Mayor Michael Bloomberg said will be the largest such system in the U.S. when it begins in July.

The “Citi Bike” program, presented by the mayor and Citigroup Chief Executive Officer Vikram Pandit at City Hall today, will offer 10,000 bikes branded with the New York-based bank’s logo at 600 docking stations in Manhattan and Brooklyn.

via Citigroup Pays $41 Million to Sponsor NYC Bike-Sharing Program – Bloomberg.

(Folks will pay about $100 for a year’s worth. That’s not “sharing,” is it?)