Latest news with #CitiBikes
Boston Globe
3 days ago
- Boston Globe
Providence's College Hill is ready for an improved bikesharing program — it just needs the bikes
Providence, with its ever-growing bike infrastructure and environmentally conscious citizens, lacks one of the simplest parts of this equation: reliable bikesharing infrastructure, and it should start here in College Hill. Get Rhode Map A weekday briefing from veteran Rhode Island reporters, focused on the things that matter most in the Ocean State. Enter Email Sign Up Providence, a city with a metro area spanning over 1 million people, is poised for a new disruption in norm transportation. Advertisement Providence's Green and Complete Streets 2021 Advertisement It's not just government infrastructure that yearns for more bike usage. It's the residents themselves. Just take a walk down Hope or Waterman Street on College Hill and see the stream of bicyclists zipping around for school, shopping and more, and the point becomes clear. Improved access to bicycles will not only provide much-needed transportation for residents of the College Hill area but also help manage traffic in one of the city's most congested zones, enabling a smoother flow of commerce and better access to coffee shops, restaurants, and housing. Providence has previously experimented with a bikesharing pilot program through a company named Jump, which launched a citywide electric bike program in the late 2010s. Although the program was well-received by residents, several key issues plagued the program and eventually led to its failure. Jump lacked fixed docking stations, unlike those found in use with New York's Citi Bikes or Boston's Blue Bikes. The absence of a centralized, secure locking area led to vandalism and inconsistent availability. In addition, the electric bikes added complexity and enabled misuse, with some riders treating the bikes more like mopeds rather than bicycles. These outcomes were not indications of failures of the bikesharing concept, but rather a result of poor execution by Jump. Improved efforts should emphasize docked, pedal-powered bikes, which have been proven to be effective, secure, and sustainable in other cities. Providence is ready for a renewed pilot program — one that takes into account lessons from past experience and focuses on feasibility. We already know that consumers want access to bikes, but many don't have space for bicycles in their cramped apartments or don't want to risk having one stolen. A Citi Bike-esque docking system will provide better security than traditional locks and chains, and the demand will justify making a profit by offering a service that improves community life. Advertisement Some will argue that they prefer their cars and don't care for bicycles. That's not a problem; in fact, more people riding bikes means fewer cars on the road, which improves traffic conditions and makes parking easier in the College Hill area. There is a win-win opportunity for everyone involved in this effort. Examining the With Spin Scooters' unpredictable reliability due to vandalized and malfunctioning scooters, similar to Jump bikes, unreliable equipment can erode trust in shared transportation, but it doesn't mean the model itself is broken. There is an opportunity to introduce a greener, more reliable alternative that many are already asking for, and one that is economically feasible. Providence's College Hill has the demand, the culture, and the infrastructure; all it needs now is the bikes. Ryan Spinney and Shafiqa Rehayee are master of public affairs students at Brown University.
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Citi Bike agrees to curb e-bike speeds at 15 mph after service suspension threat from NYC Mayor Eric Adams admin
NEW YORK — Citi Bike has agreed to curb the speed at which its e-bikes can go at 15 miles per hour — a move that came in response to a service suspension threat from Mayor Eric Adams' administration. The electric Citi Bikes can currently ride at 18 miles per hour, a limit the service's operator, Lyft, previously set as part of an agreement with Adams' Department of Transportation. But late Thursday, Citi Bike general manager Patrick Knoth said that due to 'direction from City Hall,' the new speed cap will be 15 miles per hour. 'We're working to meet that mandate and best serve our riders,' Knoth added without offering a timeline for how soon the lower speed cap could be effective on the hundreds of e-bikes Lyft operates across the city. Knoth's announcement came after the Daily News first reported Wednesday that Adams, citing growing concern in neighborhoods over the dangers posed by e-bikes, would enact a 15 mph speed limit on all e-bikes in the city. In response to The News' report, Knoth said late Wednesday the mayor's office had not told Lyft of the policy shift and said he would 'express deep concern' about it. Randy Mastro, Adams' first deputy mayor, then sent a letter to Lyft late Thursday saying that due to its refusal to comply with the demand for a new 15 mph speed limit he was declaring the current 18 mph speed limit an 'emergency threat to life and property.' Under that declaration, Mastro's letter, which was also signed by Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez, said Lyft had to come into compliance with the new 15 mph speed limit within 15 days. If it didn't, Mastro suggested Adams' administration could invoke a provision of Lyft's contract that says the city government reserves the right to start 'removing, replacing, relocating, reinstalling or locking all or any portion' of Citi Bike's fleet if doesn't comply with rules set by the city in the event of a 'threat to life' emergency. Within hours of Mastro making that threat, Knoth announced Citi Bike was 'working' on complying with the new mandate. Mastro, a controversial attorney who served in the Giuliani administration, cited the need to invoke such a drastic emergency to the fact that 11 people have died on electric Citi Bikes since 2021. He also noted 1,170 have been injured in that stretch. Since becoming Adams' top deputy at City Hall in early April, Mastro has been at the center of several other controversial policy disputes, including signing a legally disputed order to let ICE back on Rikers, issuing a directive to freeze certain fines on landlords and pressuring a concert promoter to cancel a performance by a pro-Palestinian singer. Most private e-bikes can currently ride at 20 mph, a limit that would have to be lowered under the Adams administration's new regime. It remains unclear how exactly the administration will enforce the new speed limit, but Mastro acknowledged in the letter to Lyft that the matter still needs to go through a formal rulemaking process, meaning its official implementation is likely still over a month away. Since Adams took office in 2022, the Department of Transportation has fallen way short of bike lane construction targets set as part of a citywide master plan. In his letter to Lyft, Mastro argued the city's progress on bike lane construction is being inhibited by e-bike fatalities. 'The lack of action to address this issue is hindering the city's ability to advance bike lane and micro-mobility infrastructure and safety across the city,' he wrote. The mayor has recently portrayed cracking down on bike riding as a matter of public safety amid widespread concern. Last month, his NYPD started handing out criminal instead of civil summonses to bike riders for running red lights or otherwise riding recklessly, a drastic shift that has outraged transit advocates and City Council members who note car drivers do not face such penalties for similar infractions.
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
How To Make an Extra $6K a Month (It's as Easy as Riding a Bike)
If you live in New York, you've probably heard of Citi Bikes. It's an immensely popular bike-sharing program by Lyft that operates throughout Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, Hoboken and Jersey City. Read More: Find Out: The official website claims it's 'the best way to get around.' Considering there are plans to expand to 36,000 bikes and more than 2,000 Citi Bike stations in 2025, this might not be that far off base. Citi Bikes is more than the area's 'official bike share program.' It's also touted as a fun — and affordable — alternative to taxis, walking, and the whole public transit system. It's accessible, convenient and, for some people, a great way to earn additional income every month. Citi Bikes might not have been intended as a side hustle, but it's certainly become that way for the dedicated few who know how to game the system. The New York Times even called it 'the perfect New York hustle, a scam of subtle perfection. The way it works is simple: Borrow a Citi Bike. Ride it a block — just one. Wait about 15 minutes. Ride it back to where you started. As for earning money, that part's a little more complicated. Citi Bike's goal is to offer seamless pickup and drop-off of its bikes — but things don't always go as planned. Sometimes, someone going to work doesn't have a place to leave their bike when they arrive. Others can't find a bike when they need one during their lunch break or have errands to run with no time to waste. Read Next: However, the program costs roughly $220 a year, and subscribers are none too happy with paying that much only to find no available bikes. That's why Citi Bike started introducing various tactics and incentives to get bikes where they're most needed. One such program, introduced in 2016, is Bike Angels. This program essentially allows Citi Biker subscribers to move bikes themselves in exchange for points. After earning enough points, they can redeem them for a variety of things — from swag to membership discounts to gift cards. Some New Yorkers — later dubbed Power Angels — got so into this that they started competing with one another to win the most points. Here are just a few ways to earn points: 4 points for taking a bike from a full station 4 points for docking a bike at an empty station 3x points for moving 4+ bikes within 24 hours Each ride can earn as many as 24 points, which translates to a maximum of $4.80 per ride (with the 3x points). Cutting ahead a few years, these 'Power Angels' discovered how to game the system, analyzing the algorithm to see where they could earn the most and maximize those financial benefits. By working together, they found a way to exploit the system — called 'station flipping' — and make some pretty good money. Here's just one account of how, back in August 2024, seven Bike Angels made money riding bikes: Each one used a special blue key (awarded by Citi Bike) to unlock a bike at a docking station. They then rode it one block, docked it, ran back to their starting point to unlock another bike, and repeated the cycle. Knowing Lyft's algorithm resets every 15 minutes (meaning new point values get awarded for each bike move), the Angels created a system in which one station would be totally full while the other (just one block away) would be empty. Viewing the empty docks as being in high-demand, the algorithm offered $4.80 per bike returned to the empty station. The riders then changed direction (each riding their bikes from the full station to the empty one), earning the maximum incentive per ride. As far as side hustles go, it's inventive, but not without its challenges. That said, one particular Bike Angel, known as Tommy, was said to have earned around $60,000 in 2023 by flipping bikes. In the early part of September, another Angel (username: NS143) earned roughly $3,800 or 19,394 points. Most don't earn nearly that much, perhaps enough to pay some bills, and taxes still have to be paid. But all in all? For those who are dedicated and willing to put in the work, it's not a bad hustle. More From GOBankingRates 7 Tax Loopholes the Rich Use To Pay Less and Build More Wealth Sources 'Mayor Adams Announces Major Expansion of Citi Bike Service in Outer Boroughs as Ridership Continues to Soar' The New York Times, 'The Hustlers Who Make $6,000 a Month by Gaming Citi Bikes' Citi Bike NYC, 'Citi Bike Annual Membership | Citi Bike NYC' This article originally appeared on How To Make an Extra $6K a Month (It's as Easy as Riding a Bike) Sign in to access your portfolio
New York Post
19-05-2025
- New York Post
7-year-old child shot in NYC home, marking the third minor to be shot in the Bronx in a week
A 7-year-old boy was shot in a Bronx home Sunday afternoon, becoming at least the third innocent minor to be struck by a bullet in the borough in a week, police said. The child was inside a home on East 230th Street in the Wakefield section of the borough when he was shot in the left hand around 4 p.m., according to the NYPD. 3 A 7-year-old boy was shot in the Bronx, marking the third time a child was hit by a bullet in the last week in the borough. Paul Martinka The family of the victim, whose name was not released by police, took him to Jacobi Medical Center, where he was listed in stable condition, police said. Cops are investigating whether the child got hold of the gun and accidentally shot himself in the hand, according to law enforcement sources. Police said they received a 911 call about the shooting, which remains under investigation. The incident marks at least the third shooting of an innocent child in that area of the Bronx in the last week. On May 12, Evette Jeffrey, 16, was shot in the head and killed near a schoolyard after coming back from celebrating her anniversary with her boyfriend at a local Chinese restaurant. She was caught in the crossfire of a gang-fueled shootout and was not the intended target, cops said. 3 A seven-year old boy shot in the Bronx was listed in stable condition at Jacobi Medical Center. Robert Miller Mayor Eric Adams visited the tragic scene that night and had an impromptu conversation with a clutch of terrified parents. 'Several lives are destroyed,' Adams said of the deadly shooting. 'We know that we have an obligation to create safe environments for young people. And that is what we try to do every day,' he added. The next day, an 11-year-old boy was injured in a shooting when, again, teens opened fire on a rival gang just blocks from where Jeffrey was slain riding her scooter. The shooters missed their targets, but one of their bullets smashed through the rear passenger side window of a passing car and showered the boy with glass. He was taken to the hospital and listed in stable condition. 3 Police are investigating the shooting of a 7-year-old boy in the Bronx on Sunday afternoon. Christopher Sadowski The driver of the car was shot in the shoulder and also listed in stable condition. The shooters escaped on Citi Bikes.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Yahoo
2 innocent victims injured in NYC shooting just blocks from where 16-year-old girl was killed in crossfire
Two innocent passersby were shot and wounded in the Bronx Tuesday, just blocks away and less than 24 hours after a teenage girl was killed when she rode her scooter into the crossfire of rival teen gangs, according to police and law enforcement sources. Two gunmen ran up to a group of males at the corner of East 163rd Street and Washington Avenue in Melrose and opened fire at around 4:45 p.m., police said. But the gunfire instead wounded two people in a passing car — including an 11-year-old boy. The boy was cut by shattered glass and a 20-year-old male driver was shot in the left shoulder, according to cops and sources. The driver was taken to Lincoln Hospital where he was listed in stable condition with non-life-threatening injuries, according to the NYPD. The boy was also treated at Lincoln for minor injuries. The suspects fled on Citi Bikes following the shooting, cops said. The victim's car was one of two vehicles riddled with bullets in the chaos, according to photos from the scene. A white Infiniti G37X sedan was parked beneath a tree next to a Municipal Credit Union building with a bullet hole the size of a golf ball punched through the rear window. Another sedan abandoned nearby had its rear window nearly completely blown out. There have been no arrests and the investigation is ongoing, police said late Tuesday. The gun violence erupted around the corner from the Morrisania schoolyard, where 16-year-old Evette Jeffrey was shot in the head and killed while riding her scooter Monday evening. Evette had been celebrating her one-year anniversary with her boyfriend when she was shot by a boy who opened fire following a fistfight between young alleged gangbangers. A 14-year-old boy was arrested Tuesday morning for the fatal shooting, which cops said was gang-related. Investigators are still searching for a 12-year-old accomplice who allegedly handed the baby-faced killer the gun. The deadly dispute between rival street gangs — Forest Over Everything and the upstart crew Kreep On Davidson based at the Davidson Houses housing project — stemmed from a scuffle earlier in the day, sources said. It was unclear late Tuesday if the two shootings were related, but sources said cops were investigating whether Tuesday's shooting was gang-related and involved teens. The Bronx has recently been plagued by gun violence that has claimed the lives of victims caught in crossfire. In late April, two innocent bystanders were gunned down in as many days. A trailblazing Harlem bodega owner and community fixture — Excenia Mette, 61 — was fatally shot in the head when she ran outside to check on her grandson. Barely a day had passed when Daoud Marji, a 28-year-old plumber's apprentice, was shot and killed in another stray bullet shooting.
