When Citibike was launched, Manhattan was the only borough where Citibike was implemented, soon it expanded into Brooklyn and Queens. We heard so much about Citibike being a truly sustainable option for the everyday commuter. I agree, the expansion was necessary in order to bring the city together to the idea of commuting by bicycles and many people rushed to sign-on, However, the Citibike bicycle sharing idea is not quite there yet.
Yes, we have some obvious issues with infrastructure, there are not enough bicycle lanes and for sure not enough regulations protecting the commuters. These are to be solved by the city officials. At a cost of $9.00 for a day pass and $149.00 membership for a year, for those commuters whom consciously choose to curve their carbon footprint by riding a bicycle; is this really a fare rate? and most important, is this really a system that fits within a city framework of trying to achieve sustainable living conditions?
I have used many bike sharing systems before, not just in the US but also in other countries, and I always find them ranging in prices, from surprisingly low to extremely high (Citibike). Then, my interest was... WHY??? Why is the bike sharing system so complex and unpredictable?
I figured I would use this time to compare Vélo'v with Citibike. Vélo'v is the bike sharing system in the small city of Lyon - France. I haven't been there yet -- a quick Google search will prompt you to tons of pictures showcasing its medieval and Renaissance architecture, you can imagine why bicycles are the preferred transport alternative for residents.
Vélo'v is a privately-run public bicycle network. Catering to Lyon's population of 470,000, with around 2,000 bicycles distributed around 175 bicycle stations in an area of 50 km2. In the city center you are within 400 meters from a bicycle station, the best part is that 10 Euros will buy you a year membership with 30 min unlimited rides; and for longer periods, 1 Euro fee for each extra hour. Also, for those visiting the city, a weekly subscription is available for only 1 Euro.
SO? Are we overpaying for Citibike?
Citibike is also a privatly-run network. The network today aims to cater the total 8.5 million people living in the City. "Thousands" of bikes distributed around 600 Citibike stations in an area of 303 Km2. In Manhattan you are "X" miles meters from a cycle station. Finally, $149.00 will buy you a year membership for 45 min ride (this increase was recently done from 30 min - 45 min) and $9.00 will allow you to use the blue bike for a day with fees ranging from $2.50 - $9.00 for overtime use. Also, visitors can purchase the weekly subscription for $25, with overtime fees applicable.
The answer is: "YES" in comparison to Vélo'v we are overpaying for technically the same bike.
Notice that "Thousands and X" mean that there is not data for those factors and that the unequal distribution of Citibike docking stations make it even harder for commuters to use the system efficiently.
Well, obviously comparing an small city with New York City doesn't seem quite fair. The ratios do not make sense and I am sure someone could analyze this discussions extensively. In my opinion, the fact that it is not economically sound make Citibike an unsustainable system. Therefore, any bike sharing system that is that expensive or even higher in cost should really be scrutinized in favor to the public. Policies that favor the public and not necessarily these failing business models.
If you made it this far reading my boring analysis, you probably guessed that I did not rent the Citibike. Instead, I went down to the old bike shop and bought myself a bike ON-SALE.
I figured it will payoff next spring when the weather allows.
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