An EVG reader shared this Citi Bike email update from yesterday... which discussed what the bike-renting/sharing/whatever! has been up to this winter...
Overhauling bikes: We’ve overhauled more than 2,800 bikes since November and are on track to overhaul our entire fleet before the start of peak riding season. This means in addition to fixing anything that’s broken, we’re also replacing cracked seats, fixing or replacing broken bells, checking and fixing brakes, fixing hubs so bikes shift more smoothly and giving the bikes a thorough cleaning to reduce further wear and tear caused when grit gets into the chain and other moving parts. We want your spring rides to be smooth and comfortable. Once our fleet is in good repair, we aim to keep it that way. Starting this spring we will also increase our collection and repair efforts to ensure that broken bikes are quickly identified, removed, repaired and promptly put back into service.
Fixing docking points: We’ve repaired over 1,500 docking points since November and are on track to start the spring with our docks in good working order. If you experience a broken docking point, we want to know about it. Report the station name and the number on the side of the dock to our Customer Service team by phone or email.
Planning for expansion: The first Citi Bike expansion stations are planned for installation this year in Long Island City, Greenpoint and more in Williamsburg and Bed-Stuy. These station locations have been selected through a community planning process lead by NYCDOT and involving the local Community Boards and local residents that took place starting before Citi Bike’s launch.
That's great news. The expansion, that is.
ReplyDeleteIf by "overhaul" they mean "take away", then I'm all for it!
ReplyDeleteI still think they should lower the daily rental of citibike by 50%
ReplyDeleteif it were 5 dollars a day there would be a tremendous increase in daily rentals and a huge revenue increase
Sounds like they are patting their own backs just for doing basic maintenance and fixing broken shit. Reminds me of that Chris Rock bit "I TAKE CARE A MY KIDS!!" Yeah, you're supposed to!
ReplyDeleteThat map is quite deceptive, the expansion to Uptown Manhattan is part of what they call the Phase 2 expansion plan and is not scheduled to happen until 2017, and Phase 3 which includes adjacent areas in Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx is not even funded yet. They still need to raise funds for further expansion into the rest of the city and there is no guarantee that will happen.
ReplyDeleteThat being said the new company is saying and doing all the right things, and so far looks much more competent than the previous PR spin masters who all left to capitalize on their previous mistakes.
Last week I saw a guy doing something odd to the bikes as he walked down the rack- after I got to the other end of the block I looked back and saw he was stealing a bike. I thought for a second about calling in 'a guy on a blue citibike I didn't get a good look at.' The secret's out, expect more rogue bikes everywhere.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous 11:17, That's been going on almost since the beginning. Some times people don't make sure their bike is locked in place, and it can be removed with no effort. Technically, it's stealing, but they don't go sell them, they just ride them and leave them for the next person.
ReplyDeleteThe CitiBike system is a complete failure in the east village. Bikes are gone by 9 am and after 7 pm there are no docks to return your bike. A total failure. The system is meant for quick rides/errands around town - what's happening is rich white kids ride the bikes to the subway in the morning, thus depleting the bikes for the entire day. The rich white kids return the bikes afterwork, thus leaving no docks open for people from other hoods wanting to visit the east village. Why isn't Citibike restocking/removing bikes from the stations?
ReplyDelete