Citi Bike stands as New York City’s premier bike share system, the largest across the nation, and a cornerstone of the city’s transportation network. Launched in May 2013, Citi Bike has rapidly become more than just a mode of transport; it’s a fun, efficient, and budget-friendly way to navigate NYC, promoting both health and environmental sustainability.
Like many successful bike share programs globally, Citi Bike utilizes a vast fleet of robust, specially designed bicycles. These bikes are securely docked at a network of stations strategically positioned throughout the city. Users can effortlessly unlock a bike from any station and return it to any other within the system. This flexibility makes Citi Bike perfectly suited for convenient, one-way trips across New York City. New Yorkers and visitors alike utilize Citi Bike for diverse purposes, from daily commutes to work or school and quick errands, to reaching appointments or social gatherings, highlighting its versatility in urban mobility.
Operating around the clock, 365 days a year, Citi Bike offers unparalleled access to thousands of bikes spread across hundreds of stations. The service area spans Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and Jersey City, ensuring broad coverage and availability for riders throughout the city.
The Journey of Citi Bike: From Inception to NYC Icon
The Beginning – 2011-2013: The story of Citi Bike began in September 2011 when the NYC Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) announced the selection of a bike share operator for New York City. This marked the start of an extensive public consultation process, ensuring the system would meet the needs of New Yorkers. By May 2012, the system’s name, Citi Bike, was officially unveiled, along with key sponsors, with Citibank taking the title sponsorship and MasterCard becoming the Preferred Payment Partner, laying a strong financial foundation for the project. Enthusiasm for Citi Bike was immediately evident. In April 2013, weeks before the anticipated launch, 5,000 founding memberships were snapped up within just 30 hours, demonstrating the high demand for bike sharing in NYC. Finally, in May 2013, Citi Bike launched to the public, introducing 6,000 bikes across hundreds of stations in Manhattan and Brooklyn, instantly changing the landscape of urban transportation.
Early Milestones & Growth – 2013-2014: Citi Bike quickly permeated popular culture, even gracing the cover of The New Yorker magazine in June 2013, cementing its status as a significant NYC fixture. Demonstrating its integration into the city’s fabric, Citi Bike contributed to powering the New Year’s Eve ball drop in Times Square in December 2013, showcasing its innovative and community-oriented spirit. By August 2014, the total distance traveled by Citi Bike users surpassed an impressive 20 million miles, highlighting its widespread adoption and utility. A pivotal moment arrived in October 2014 when New York City Bike Share, the operator of Citi Bike, transitioned to new ownership. This change brought increased private investment, bolstered by a larger sponsorship commitment from Citi and expanded credit from the Goldman Sachs Urban Investment Group, paving the way for substantial expansion. This financial boost enabled the announcement of a 6,000-bike expansion, set to double the network size to 12,000 bikes, promising greater availability and reach. In December 2014, Citi Bike made its silver screen debut, featured in the opening scenes of the 2014 Sony Pictures’ “Annie” remake, ridden by actress Quvenzhané Wallis, further embedding itself in the city’s cultural narrative.
Expansion and Record Ridership – 2015-2017: The promised expansion began in August 2015, adding 140 new stations across neighborhoods like Bed-Stuy, Greenpoint, Long Island City, Williamsburg, and the Upper East and West Sides, significantly broadening Citi Bike’s footprint. December 2015 marked a record-breaking milestone as Citi Bike riders achieved 10 million trips in a single year. This ridership surpassed all other bike share programs in the Western Hemisphere that year, except for Paris’s Velib, underscoring Citi Bike’s immense popularity and effectiveness. By May 2016, Citi Bike celebrated its 100,000th annual member, demonstrating sustained growth and loyalty. Expansion continued through August 2016, adding another 140 stations in Manhattan’s Upper East & West Sides, Jersey City, and new Brooklyn neighborhoods, growing the fleet from 8,000 to 10,000 bikes. September 2017 saw further expansion with 142 new stations in Harlem, East Harlem, Astoria, Crown Heights, and Prospect Heights, and an increase to 12,000 bikes, continually enhancing network density and accessibility. In October 2017, Citi Bike riders reached a cumulative total of 50 million trips, a testament to its integral role in New York City life.
Continued Growth and Integration – 2018-Present: Citi Bike marked its 5th anniversary in May 2018, celebrating over 143,000 members and its significant contribution to NYC’s transportation ecosystem. A major integration occurred in May 2019 when Citi Bike rentals became available directly through the Lyft app, streamlining access for millions of users and broadening its user base. Ridership continued to soar, and in September 2019, Citi Bike broke a daily ridership record, exceeding 100,000 trips in a single day, demonstrating its crucial role in daily commuting and city navigation. In July 2020, Citi Bike celebrated an astounding 100 million trips taken since its inception, solidifying its place as a vital and beloved component of New York City’s transportation infrastructure.
Citi Bike’s journey reflects its ongoing evolution and increasing importance in New York City. From its ambitious launch to continuous expansion and record-breaking usage, Citi Bike remains a key player in sustainable urban mobility, offering an efficient, healthy, and enjoyable way to experience the city.
