Business & Tech

NYC Sets Launch Date for Citi Bike Share

Long-awaited rent-a-bike program to begin May 27.

This article includes reporting by Amy Sara Clark.

Finally. After years of waiting, the city is rolling out its bike share program on Memorial Day.

The rent-a-bikes will be available first to those who cough up the $95 annual membership fee. The more cautious option for a daily or weekly membership will have access a week later, on June 2.

There are only a couple of border bike stations that will be accessible to South Brooklynites at launch. See a map of all the locations here.

"Our district's bike share locations will be installed as part of the second wave of rollouts," District Manager Craig Hammerman told Patch. "DOT has already come out to explain the general program to us and to solicit ideas for docking stations.  They recently reconfirmed that they will be returning to review the list of locations with us soon. On a positive note, we're hoping that if there are any bugs or glitches they will have worked them all out before they get to our district."

In the meantime, the bikes will also be available every few blocks in Manhattan below 59th Street, so they’ll still be useful for crosstown jaunts. 

Here is a breakdown of program specifics:

-Annual memberships offer unlimited rides of 45 minutes or less and cost $95.
-Daily memberships will be available for $9.95 a day or $25 a week, and allow unlimited rides of 30 minutes or less at no additional cost.
-Longer rides cost more in both plans, but are cheaper with the annual membership.

Eager beavers take note: If you want to make use of the bikes during opening week, you must register for the annual membership by May 17 in order to get your electronic key in time. See the Citi Bike site to sign up and for pricing details


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

More from Carroll Gardens-Cobble Hill