RIOC Approves Roosevelt Island Lyft Citibike Dock Sharing System - Approx 75 Bikes At 4 Docking Stations Coming This Spring But Not Allowed On Roosevelt Island Tram

Citibike sharing docking stations are finally coming to Roosevelt Island this spring nearly 10 years after the first Roosevelt Island bike sharing demo in 2010 and in 2014 being the neighborhood with most requests for the Citibke system.

As reported February 27:

... it appears that the deal is done and there will be Roosevelt Island Citibike sharing stations here this spring.

RIOC Vice President of Capital Planning and Projects Jonna Carmona-Graf briefed the RIOC Board Members last evening about the proposed deal to bring Citibike to Roosevelt Island at four locations suggested by Citibike with a total of 72 bicycles. The locations from south to north are:

• Southpoint Park
• Adjacent to new comfort station at Firefighters Field between Tram Station and Ferry Dock
• Under the Helix at Motorgate
• Adjacent to the Octagon Soccer Field on Manhattan Side of East River Promenade....

On March 5, the RIOC Board of Directors approved a pilot program for Roosevelt Island Citibike sharing docking stations at the locations described above except the Octagon station will move from the West Promenade to the Octagon Building parking lot. A request to move the docking station from the Tram/Ferry area closer to the F Train subway station was not accepted at this time but depending on usage could be re-evaluated.

There may even be a few motorized Citibkes.

RI Citibike 

Citibkes will not be allowed on the Roosevelt Island Tram.

No.

— RIOC NYS (@RIOCny) March 5, 2020

Here's the RIOC Board Citibike presentation by Lyft representative and RIOC Board discussion



and RIOC/Lyft press release:

On Thursday, March 5, 2020, The Board of Directors of the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation (RIOC) approved a pilot program to allow at least four (4) new bikeshare stations on Roosevelt Island. Lyft is scheduled to install these stations in spring 2020. Residents and visitors alike will be able to use the bikes to access various shops, restaurants and historic landmarks throughout the island, as well as access transportation hubs such as the tramway, subway and ferry.

Citi Bike customers will be able to ride on Roosevelt Island’s promenades along the East River, which offer breathtaking views of midtown Manhattan and Long Island City in Queens. Riders can visit Four Freedoms State Park at the southern end, the different shops and restaurants along Main Street and continue up to the historic northern end of the island where the new Nellie Bly Memorial will be opened later this year. Citi Bike’s presence on Roosevelt Island is part of Governor Cuomo’s vision for green transportation alternatives that reduce greenhouse emissions and promotes healthier living for all New Yorkers.

“Under the leadership of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, RIOC is proud to be able to offer a wide range of sustainable transportation opportunities to our residents and visitors,” said Susan Rosenthal, President and CEO of RIOC. “Working alongside our partner Lyft, we look forward to offering our community an affordable, convenient, and healthy way to get around our beautiful island.”

“As we work to double the Citi Bike network over the coming years, Lyft is thrilled to put forward a proposal to bring Citi Bike to the Roosevelt Island community,” said Laura Fox, Citi Bike General Manager. “Citi Bike plays a variety of roles across our city: a quick connection to the closest subway; an affordable option to get in some exercise; and now with our new ebikes, a no-sweat ride over an East River bridge. We are grateful to RIOC for their partnership on this proposal and hope that Roosevelt Island residents will soon discover the benefits of bikeshare themselves and incorporate Citi Bike into their daily lives.”

"CitiBike share for Roosevelt Island was one of my first campaign promises,” said Councilmember Ben Kallos, whose Fifth District includes Roosevelt Island. “It was also the first resolution we passed through RIRA and CB8M as a candidate to represent Roosevelt Island in the City Council. Now, the years of work to make this happen are paying off. Over the years my office has worked through multiple owners of CitiBike to pursue this expansion while eliminating costs to the Island and securing permission from the Department of Transportation. I look forward to working with RIOC, RIRA, and residents on a roll-out that makes a CitiBike an integral part of Roosevelt Island. Whether it is to Four Freedoms or from Lighthouse Park or destinations in between, CitiBike is going to make getting around Roosevelt Island more convenient and more fun. Thank you to Governor Cuomo and RIOC President Rosenthal for helping make this a reality.”

Expansion to Roosevelt Island comes as Lyft moves forward on its previously-announced $100 million investment to improve, strengthen and expand Citi Bike over the coming years -- doubling its current service area by thirty-five square miles and more than tripling its number of bikes to nearly 40,000. And as Lyft expands its physical footprint, it is also expanding its programming to ensure Citi Bike is equitable and accessible to the communities it serves. Lyft recently announced an innovative new LyftUp partnership with the YMCA to provide thousands of young people with free, one-year bikeshare memberships in Lyft-operated bikeshare systems like Citi Bike. This program complements the existing Reduced Fare Bike Share program, presented by Healthfirst, which provides $5 a month Citi Bike memberships to New Yorkers who receive SNAP benefits or reside in NYCHA developments.