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‘It’s too much’: Citi Bike rate hikes take effect, to the dismay of Brooklyn riders

citi bikes in bed-stuy
Citi Bike rate hikes took effect this week, to the dismay of some Brooklyn riders.
File photo by Anna Bradley-Smith

Citi Bike rate increases went into effect this week, costing commuters and casual riders a little extra each time they undock. 

Lyft, the parent company of the Citi Bike program, announced that starting the second week of January, non-member rides on e-bikes will increase from 36 cents per minute to 38 cents per minute. A single-ride pass will increase to $4.99 from $4.79. In February, day passes will jump from $19 to $25, and day pass overage charges will rise to 38 cents per minute. 

“I use them mostly every day,” said Malex Mendoza, a Sunset Park resident. Mendoza, who mostly sticks to public transportation, is worried about the increase for both the subway fare and Citi Bikes. 

citi bikers in manhattan
Citi Bikers in Manhattan on Jan. 12. Fees are increasing for members and non-members across the city.Photo by Dean Moses

“It’s too much. We are not rich, and we don’t have money to afford bikes like that,” Mendoza told Brooklyn Paper. 

Members will face slightly easier rate hikes. Annual membership costs will stay the same, with e-bikes only increasing 25 cents per minute from 24 cents. Overage fees for both classic and electric bikes for members will also increase to 25 cents per minute. 

However, reminiscent of congestion pricing that went into effect this January, members will be charged $5 for e-bike rides that are 45 minutes or less that enter or exit Manhattan.

Local politicians have called for regulation of rate increases for bike-sharing apps. Brooklyn Council Member Lincoln Restler introduced a bill to the City Council last September attempting to cap maximum charges for bike-sharing operators. 

“New Yorkers can’t afford for Citi Bike to hike prices every few months. We need to tie the cost of a CitiBike ride to the cost of a subway fare to make it more accessible and affordable to choose cycling,” said Nieve Mooney, a spokesperson from Restler’s office. 

electric citi bikes in downtown brooklyn
Electric CitiBikes docked in Downtown Brooklyn. File photo by Ben Brachfeld

Last summer, Mayor Eric Adams said he would “love to” subsidize Citi Bikes, but did not have a concrete plan to do so. At the time, Deputy Mayor Meera Joshi said subsidized rides should be included in future CitiBike expansions.

Citi Bike is set to expand significantly in fall 2025, bringing bike-share access to underserved Brooklyn neighborhoods, including Bay Ridge, Brownsville, East New York, and Kensington. 

Colton Greer, a Bay Ridge resident, says the rate increase for the shared bikes will not factor into his decision of how frequently he will use them. 

“I know they are expanding them; if rate hikes are going to improve that, I am down for that,” shared Greer.