New York, NY – As officials from the cash-strapped Citi Bike program scramble for funding following Mayor Bill de Blasio’s announcement last week that the program will not be receiving any public financial assistance, planners are considering relocating some of the city’s “least used” bike stations—most of which are in Brooklyn.
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The NEW YORK POST (http://bit.ly/1phpRiL) reports that Citi Bike records show that among the “least-frequented” bike stations, the Brooklyn Navy Yard-based station only had 29 and 31 trips in and out respectively in January, while the bike share station located at Bedford Avenue and Ninth Street in Williamsburg also showed dismal January results with under 60 rides in and out.
Placed into context against some of the city’s busiest Citi Bike stations, a Grand Central Station location in Manhattan accumulated 3,979 inbound trips and 3,725 outbound rides in January.
Sources say necessary ID access for the Brooklyn Navy Yard location is the likely culprit for lack of use, while in the Hasidic neighborhoods in Willamsburg the program is largely being ignored.
Local resident, 32 year-old Joseph Mendelovitz, said, “The community isn’t using these bikes. Women cannot and men have cars or they walk, but they don’t want to ride these bikes.”
I use the citibike every day in Manhattan, and I sincerely hope that they find a way to make it work. It is a useful and vital program for those who have a short, local commute.
get a rid of the bikes ad give back some freedom to the car drivers
Maybe they could take the dime from the shopping bag tax and use it for the bikes!
Had they done a study of the most 2014 Honda Odyssey and Toyota Siienna’s, Williamsburg would top them all off
Maybe if we chasidim start riding those bikes we will see less overwight unhealthy men walking around with high blood pressure,diabeetes and other diseases…
Good put the bikes in neighborhoods that do want them and will use them. Like Southern Brooklyn.
Haha , watch under Deblasio everything will go back to the way it was before good ol’ Mayor Mike. Anybody want some sugurey sodas to go with your cigarette?
It seems like a good idea, but perhaps they expanded too quickly.
Being in Williamsburg, with almost 220 trips on CitiBike since June, i usually park at the station at the foot of the bridge. It is almost as close as S. 9th.