It’s Official: NYC Bike Share Delayed Until Spring 2013

By on August 18, 2012 11:25 am in Brooklyn Heights, Streets, War On Fun

Earlier this week, New York City’s anticipated Bike Share Program—including locations in Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn Bridge Park and Downtown Brooklyn—already faced delays that threatened to push the highly touted initiative to summer’s end. But now it’s official: The wheels of progress have been locked until at least March 2013.

Mayor Bloomberg announced Friday that Bike Share will not begin rollout until Spring, again blaming it on a computer glitch. With typical high-tone snark, he said on his radio show, “The software doesn’t work. Duh. You’re not going to put it out until it does work.” The program was originally to launch in July.

According to The New York Times, the city released a timeline that will begin in March with 7,000 bikes at 420 stations, before eventually expanding to 10,000 bikes and 600 stations.

“New York City demands a world-class bike-share system, and we need to ensure that Citi Bike launches as flawlessly as New Yorkers expect on Day 1,” said transportation commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan. Bloomie added, “The people that are putting up the money understand. They’re probably not any happier about it than the people who want to rent the bikes or you and me or everybody else. But that’s the real world.”

Read the full New York Times story here.

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  • Bloomy

    This is a shame. I know they want to start during good weather to get as many people signed up as possible, but this is a program designed for commuters. Last I checked people still have to commute to work during the winter time.

  • Lydia

    Yea!! That’s good news to me. Traffic is bad enough without bikes violating traffic rules–especially delivery people. When the City and State figure out a way to make cyclists obey traffic rules and regulations, I’ll support the cyclists. Until then, the fewer bikes on the roads, the better.

  • Bloomy

    @Lydia: Getting bicyclists to obey traffic laws will happen about the same time the state gets motor vehicle to obey the very same laws.

  • WillowSt.Neighbor

    Bloomy,
    I have yet to see a car up on the sidewalk going in the wrong direction. Cars do not routinely go through red lights but the cyclists almost always do especially at the corner of Montague and Clinton. Maybe I am just getting too old to dodge cyclists all day long.

  • Quinn Raymond

    Disappointed that we have to wait until March. Maybe by then some of our crankier neighbors will have overcome their irrational fear of bicycles.

    Year after year, NYC pedestrian injury rates have declined, while bicycling rates have increased:

    http://www.streetsblog.org/2012/08/09/the-bike-and-pedestrian-safety-stats-the-daily-news-wont-cover/

  • Bloomy

    @WillowSt.Neighbor: I would never deny deliver guys on the sidewalks are annoying as hell, especially at night when they are not running any lights. But with that being said, overall I think bad bikers are just annoying, while bad drivers are often dangerous and at times deadly.

    I haven’t seen any cars driving on the sidewalk, but I did see a SUV driving south (wrong way) on Clinton for a few blocks on Sunday.

    It would be great if everyone on the road drove with more caution.

  • Jus10

    This is nuts. People who are anti-bike share are just negative downers who have never enjoyed the benefits of bike riding or bike commuting. I mean come-on people…. you’re talking about:
    1) Reducing car traffic and congestion. (and pollution)
    2) Physical Fitness
    3) Cheaper than other Mass-Transit
    4) Fun
    5) Better for the Planet, the City and the People.

    Bikes on the side walk are your complaint? The bike lanes are for the bikes. Yes, some dummies cause accidents by riding on the sidewalk, so punish THEM and make stronger Bike Lane Laws. I can’t wait for the Bike Share NYC – but you know what…? I’m willing to wait a little longer….. for them to get it right, for the biggest and bestest city in the world! Its been huge over seas, and so too shall it be here! We’ve waited this long…. a few months wont hurt any, and its worth the wait! – Nuff Said!

  • mike

    Dang. It would have been great to see this deployed in the height of good weather to bolster ridership. Small loss I guess it just great NYC is on a more bike friendly road map. There are a ton of great bike shops in my neighbor hood and bike-centric places which makes me feel lucky to live in Park Slope. Better still a bike parking place recently opened called Park Circle Storage and they do storage like most normal place but they have inexpensive bike parking that is really easy to use and access. (They are even on sale now for 25%!). I don’t have to worry about lugging my bike upstairs, finding room or not finding it at all if I leave it locked up outside, very good deal. Here’s the website for anyone interested parkcirclestorage.com