The Department of Transportation presented a plan Wednesday night to put 39 CitiBike stations on the Upper West Side, scattering them from 60th to 107th street. They could be installed starting as soon as August, although the exact timing will still need to be worked out.
A crowd of about 200 people packed a room at Goddard Riverside Community Center on Columbus Avenue and commented on the stations, which are still considered a draft. The proposed stations can still be moved, and new ones could be added based on community input.
We’ve posted the full presentation below. We’ve also posted individual slides showing sections of the neighborhood, and some of the comments that audience members made about the slides below them. The DOT picked the sites based on suggestions submitted at community meetings and discussions with community organizations like business improvement districts, elected officials and cultural institutions like the Museum of Natural History. They were often limited in where they could put stations based on space limitations and other factors like bus traffic and safety concerns. Some of the spaces are on the sidewalk, and some are in the street.
A few things to know about the program: The DOT doesn’t put stations inside parks, because the stations need to be accessible 24 hours a day and the local parks close late at night. Also, they want the stations to generally be near subway stops so people can use the bikes to travel “the last mile” before they get home or to work.
It’s not yet clear how many parking spots will be taken away, which caused some consternation in the audience. But many CitiBike proponents clapped loudly when Manhattan Borough Commissioner Margaret Forgione noted there would have to be some tradeoffs to get “a great amenity.” The DOT is “not on a mission to eliminate parking spots,” she said. The stations will be an average of 80 feet long.
The draft plan can still be changed as it gets reviewed by Community Board 7 in the next couple of months. On the second Tuesday of next month, the transportation committee will meet again to talk about bike safety and infrastructure in the neighborhood. To register a comment, question or complaint, send an email to office@cb7.org with the subject line “CitiBike”.
Draft Plan Presentation_MN CB7_2015!05!11
We’ve annotated the slides below with audience comments about each section of the neighborhood. (Click each slide to enlarge.)
— CitiBike docking stations should be closer to subway stations like the station on 66th, noted community board member Ken Coughlin. “They seem to be scrupulously avoiding placing docks within two blocks of major subway stations.” DOT will investigate if that’s possible.
— The Dante Park station may be too close to the hotel across the street.
— Why no stations near Fordham or schools like La Guardia and MLK High School? For Fordham, DOT blamed nearby construction.
— Why so few stations on Central Park West? DOT is avoiding putting stations near pedestrian-only entrances to Central Park. They’re trying to locate CPW stations at bike entrances.
— There is only one station on Riverside Boulevard, an area without much public transportation. The new development at Riverside Center (under construction along the Hudson between 59th and 61st) may have a station “one day.”
— The spot at 74th street near Broadway may conflict with the Beacon Theater, which tends to use that area to set up for events. DOT will investigate.
— Audience members wanted to know why there weren’t any stations in Verdi Square (72nd -73rd and Broadway), given that it’s the most convenient location to get to and from the neighborhood’s busiest subway line. DOT officials noted that the city has several construction projects planned for that area. But community members urged DOT to do their best to get a station there.
— The station at 72nd street in Riverside Park caused concern as it appears to be located right at the Eleanor Roosevelt statue, which some people said would be sullied by the blue bikes with the Citi logo. “Please don’t let Eleanor be surrounded by [CitiBike] blue. Let her be surrounded by green.” But one CB7 board member read a quote from Eleanor Roosevelt herself about how much she loved taking her bike to do errands.
— Some people are concerned that a station on CPW between 71st and 72nd street would add traffic to an already congested area.
— Some audience members were confused as to why there are so few stations on West End Avenue.
— Why no stations on the Museum of Natural History superblock? Some people said the area already has a ton of traffic, including lots of school buses. Forgione said “If people feel strongly that they want more near the museum, we would reconsider.”
— The station at 79th and Riverside Drive caused concerns, as that area is congested and has cars coming off the highway.
— Some people think the station at the Joan of Arc Park in Riverside Park is problematic, because of the location of park entrances, and concerns about how it might look.
— One person wanted more stations around 91st to 93rd street.
— Some were confused about why there aren’t stations on 96th street. Also none on Columbus between 97th and 100th, where “a lot of businesses could be boosted by having bikeshare.”
— Some people want a station or two on 97th between Columbus and Amsterdam. That’s a wide block but it presents some challenges: some neighbors are calling for new public amenities and seating, and others are fighting a proposal for a new nursing home. Nonetheless, several community members called for a station or two — perhaps near Whole Foods at 97th and Columbus.
— One station was proposed at the Amsterdam Avenue entrance to Happy Warrior playground, where there’s a Christmas Tree stand in the winter.
— Concern that no stations are planned above 107th street. Some want them at 110th, close to the subway.
— The Straus Park station at 106th and West End could be tricky, as West End narrows there. Debate about whether it should be moved to Broadway or elsewhere.
— Concern about the station at 104th and Riverside, an area that one woman said has dangerous traffic patterns. However, another audience member said that block was the headquarters of the Riverside Wheelmen in 1895, and it would be a nice homage.
If you have a comment to make about a specific station, send it as soon as possible to office@cb7.org.
The DOT is “not on a mission to eliminate parking spots,” said Manhattan Borough Commissioner Margaret Forgione.
And yet, that is precisely what is being done as the war on privately owned cars intensifies. If people want to know what an asinine boondoggle this plan is, just look at the insanely underutilized bike lanes that have made traffic near impossible in Manhattan.
This is why SANE people are voting with their feet.
I use the bike lanes almost every day. Now that the weather is nice I take my bike to work almost everyday, mainly because I simply cannot stand taking the subway to work anymore. It is almost always insanely crowded, and there is at least one hostile outburst a week–usually because people are fed up and someone with low coping skills decides to make life even more nasty for everyone else. I know pedal my bike to work and home, which gives me a chance to unwind and exercise at the same time. I don’t go fast on my clunker, but I still make it to work at about the same time I would have trying to get on one of the endlessly delayed 1 trains.
Well I think that one of the reasons the citibike is in place is so people wouldn’t use cars. Isn’t that the point?! So maybe fewer parking spaces is ok.
In two years, my last child will be done with college and will probably bolt this town as have my other children, and I and my wife will have few reasons to stay anymore.
After almost 50 years of calling the UWS my home, I will tearfully say goodbye to a neighborhood that embraced us as we embraced it.
I know that nothing stays the same and even the dinosaurs, like me, have to face this. My “bum knee” will have to find another place to hobble.
Having survived through Abe Beame, Ed Koch, and David Dinkins, and then seeing the turnaround under Giuliani and Bloomberg, we were really hoping to stay here to the end. As an apartment dweller, I didn’t have to shovel snow or mow grass, and having a car to make weekend escapes made life a delight.
Poster “RK”s flip-off has not been unique, and indicates an immaturity that only time will rectify.
Yes, because everyone remembers how traffic was non-existent in Manhattan before we put in some bike lanes.
There is a disturbing lack of sympathy for car owners who need their cars here in the city (for whatever reason- commuting, job, healthcare) and can only afford to park on the street. I have to agree that both DOT and bikeshare seem insensitive to the situation. The CB meeting (and attendant uproar) some 10 years ago covering the possible razing of the three garages on 108th street was indicative. The proposed bike share sites definitely could use some pushback so the loss of street spaces is not so severe. Presently around 150 spaces will be lost in the current plan.
700 bicycles (18 bicycles x 39 stations) that will benefit thousands and thousands of residents in the UWS and the rest of the city in exchange for 150 free parking spots. That’s more than fair in my book. True, there are folks that due require a car for justified reasons but for each of those there are plenty that don’t. Eventually the system will balance itself out. When parking becomes increasingly difficult people that can afford to pay a garage will do so and those that can’t afford and don’t really need their car will sell it. Maybe they can try citiBike instead. The suburbs are an option too.
See, that’s kinda why so many people hate the extremist cycling advocates, and the moderate cycling advocates have such a hard time in New York. No car owner needs to “justify” their decision, and no moderate-income car owner should be treated so dismissively.
The cycling extremists just aren’t willing to be collaborative, and they consistently lose out due to that philosophy. There are few more maligned species than the NYC cyclist, and I think it’s largely their blindered perspective (both on and off the street) that creates it.
Jeremy, there are an estimated 3 to 5 million parking spots in NYC. About 96% of these spots are absolutely free to car owners. Yet when a couple thousand spots (less than 1%) are repurposed for an amenity that will provide cheap convenient transportation to the many it is car owners who start to cry foul and calling names. Who’s the extremist and the maligned species? I guess this is the ugly side of entitlement.
For crying out loud Juan Bohica, there is no war on privately own cars. You’re not entitled to free street parking, it doesn’t belong to you it belongs to all the residents of this city. If at the expense of two or three parking spots per station there is a potential to benefit 35 to 40 additional residents the trade off is more than justified.
Only if the riders comply with driving rules and people watch their step will this work. There are not enough free car spaces. So yes, it is rediculous!
There should be zero free spaces. No one has a right to free parking. If the market set parking rates getting a spot wouldn’t be so damn hard.
I couldn’t agree more. In fact in Tokyo you can’t buy a car unless you can show proof of having purchased a parking spot for your new vehicle. Unfortunately that concept is a really hard one to sell given our cultural paradigm.
nj, it’s been working below 59th St. so it’s going to work here too. Not enough free car spaces you say? Think again, NYC has an estimated average of 4 million car spots of which 96% are free. CitiBike is taking less than 1% (something like .06% actually). Who’s being ridiculous?
You mean, voting with their wheels. Sounds like you want to live in the ‘burbs. That would be great – one less car to clog our streets. See ya!
Bummer. I requested a citibike stand in my apartment, just a small one, maybe 2 bikes.
Seriously, I’m a bit disappointed that the density of stations is not what it is in the rest of Manhattan. I noticed this on the UES too. There are large swaths without a stand.
They didn’t go through the physical requirements, but I would think stations on the east side of Broadway between 77th and 78th, and between 79th and 80th.
Did I mis-hear it, or did transportation committee chair Dan Zweig speak up to oppose bikes and a station on WEA between 106th and 107th “because cars need to speed there” and instead put it on Broadway “where there’s no parking, just handicapped parking.” Maybe I mis-heard him.
Yeap, you pretty much heard it right. He didn’t appear to care that much faster traffic would be coming down Broadway as opposed to the slower traffic down the single lane West End Av on the west side of Straus Park. A couple other board members appeared baffled by Mr. Zweig’s rationale as well.
Overall I’m also concerned about the density of the stations or more specifically the lack of it. I’m hoping that stations are added to the grid as time goes on and the demand increases.
I attended last night’s meeting, hold a CitiBike membership, and admired the work and the effort that went into last night’s presentation. All that being said, I was a little surprised that, after considering 500 potential locations, they presented only 39 proposed stations on the UWS. Especially considering how many stations there are in certain other parts of Manhattan [there are spots in Midtown where one can stand and look in each direction and see multiple stations]. I guess we will have to use the ones we get and hope they will expand in time.
I was also a bit surprised that seemingly-obvious locations, like within sight of the 72nd St subway [perhaps if they relocated some of those tables of used books], and the ‘super-block’ around the Museum, had no proposed stations.
And why there are no proposed stations on West End until you get to West 94th? With its wide lanes [yes, there are double-parked delivery trucks] and ban on commercial vehicles, and north/south traffic, it would seem, to me, to be a good route for cyclists taking that 14-minute trip.
Anyway, I’m glad it’s coming to the UWS.
No stations on CPW from 60th to all the way up to 85th St? Are they trying to save money or just going slow to get community buy-in? They need to add at least 10-15 more stations to get the density right. Williamsburg and Greenpoint are getting 53 Citibike stations this year, (see: http://www.brooklynpaper.com/stories/38/10/dtg-citibike-greenpoint-expansion-2015-03-06-bk_38_10.html) and there are way fewer people in that area than the UWS. There are buildings in the UWS with more people than they have on an entire block in Greenpoint. At this point it’s better to focus on adding more stations near subways, CPW and the Museum of Natural History and where there are large gaps in the 100s than to fiddle with the current proposed locations.
Apparently the parks department was concerned about people renting bikes and riding in the park, since the goal of citibike is commuting not leisurely riding. Furthermore they want to discourage people from riding bikes on pedestrian paths. So there are only stations on CPW near the entrances to the park which are bike-legal. Although this makes sense, it’s a bit disappointing, since living on/near CPW requires a minimum walk of the long block to Columbus for any amenities, for which a citibike would be very helpful.
I hope they increase the density and fill in the gaps over the years.
Oh, come on. You won’t see bike stands on that stretch of Central Park West because that’s where the richest of the rich (and the celebritiest of the celebrities?) live.
Bikes are wonderful, I’m sure they’d say — just not in my front yard. And they (obviously) have the clout to see that it turns out that way, too.
The density bothers me too, especially around the express subway stops where I would imagine that demand for bikes will be high once they are installed.
Honestly, Im just pleased they are finally planning to roll this out on the UWS, so Ill take what I can get.
Please consider emailing CB7 (office@cb7.org.) to request more stations above 107th street. The stations at 106 and 107 will be stressed from overuse from people living north of 107th.
Thank you.
Hi Michael, I’m not exactly sure where I saw it but DOT has a map showing stations just north of 110th St. Phase II expansion covers from 59th St. to 150th St. The station spread is somewhat consistent both north and south of 110th St. With that said, I do agree with you and think that there should be a station somewhere in this location: https://www.google.com/maps/@40.800354,-73.958248,3a,75y,146.01h,68.57t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sRc2Xy4zGtshR8GHzdmlZ2g!2e0?hl=en
I hope you are correct. The presentation slides stopped at 110 and the summary mentioned the lack of stations at 110. I am surprised that they didnt expand up to Columbia area, that seems a natural. Maybe Phase III. Thanks
Columbia, is part of Phase 2. The slides only contained sectors within CB7 which go from 59th to 110th. The rep from DOT mentioned that stations above 110 will be going in concurrently with those in the UWS.
They were not sure when the stations from 110th to 130th will be placed, but it’s unlikely it will be at the same time as the UWS stations, as that community board is not as far along in the process. WSR
Very excited to have Citibikes near by. Great news.
Yo, Gio! Pls take another look – there’s a station proposed for CPW – 71-72 ST. PARK SIDE AGAINST WALL. I urge you to visit that location and work your wy through the tourists who unload 50 at a time from tour buses sometimes double-parked on the entire length of 72 park block. Also pedicabs station and vendors setting souvenirs. There is a food cart on the park side at the south 72 side of park entrance – lots of room there for bike stations – but not much else if they go in. 72 st. park block is on tilit – and tilitinb!!
This makes no sense. Am I reading this wrong or did they really not place these near subway stops but on residential streets? Do they consider how these bikes will be used or did they just throw darts at a map?
In DOT’s defense, they explained that they started with a total of 500 potential locations on the UWS. However, due to physical restrictions like closely spaced manholes, subway grates, trees, bus stops, bus routes (turning radius), bus stops, fire/police stations, schools, narrow sidewalks, benches (by the parks), etc., and prior community input these 39 stations were what they considered to be the best locations. At Fordham for example due to the ongoing construction and the state in which the roadway is in it was not possible to set a station there. But they also mentioned that as the system goes on line and the use patterns start to develop they will adjust the stations to better satisfy the actual needs. But if you have any comments CB7 will hear them, feel free to e-mail them at office@cb7.org they seem to be open to accepting suggestions.
This is definitely a work in progress.
Zulu, thanks for the enlightenment, I didn’t know the
relationship with the DOT, however, I was not concerned that
CitiBike was taking metered spots away
only that there should be a financial benefit for NYC and not
just an environmental one…of course electric vehicles are
coming…
It would not make sense to put them near subway stops. For that matter, just take the subway for your commute. They should be placed in areas where no bus/train alternatives exist.
The UWS, unlike any other hood in the city, has two major under ground subway lines and numerous bus routes. These bikes would better serve those people along Riverside Drive and Blvd. IN Riverside Park, along 59, 72, 79, 96, and 110 Streets would be the best suitable location. Plus, NO parking spots would be used up.
People are using Citibike to get to someplace they want to go. Usage records show that transportation hubs are popular Citibike destination points in the current system in downtown Manhattan.
Riverside Drive has M5 bus coverage, where West End Avenue has no bus service at all. It would make the greatest amount of sense to utilize WEA as Citibike starting points to get people to popular destination points that have mass transit and bus coverage.
West End is right between Broadway and Riverside – both of which have transportation options (subway or bus). If people are so lazy they can’t walk one block east or west do you really think they’re going to ride a bike? The best part about WEA is its lack of commercialization. Traffic has only gotten worse since they reduced it to three lanes. CitiBike stations should not be on West End.
Many residents of the city may not be paying for Citibike directly, but the financial cost will be felt when daily activities are changed or affected by placement of sites. Citibike will not pay real estate taxes for the use of the land. A change like this will affect the city ecosystem. Good planning is critical to minimize the financial impact.
The placement of bike stations should all be good destination points. Putting them on a street that is close to where people will go is a smart use of the resource. West End Avenue is such a place. A lot of people live there and it is near other forms of public transport another form of destination point. This type of criteria maximizes the utility of the sites and provides the best coverage while minimizing duplication and conflicting uses.
Manhattan mark, I’m still not sure what your point is. Parking is removed for all kinds of reasons; street festivals, movie shoots, bus stops, safety.
The vast majority of the city supports Citibike, so the city is acting in accordance with that. If you have car and you want a reliable parking spot, you have to pay for it.
manhattan mark, can you please point out which citibike stations are taking up metered spots?
And no, citibike is not like a Hertz or Avis at all. It’s a completely different business model. Motivate (owners of the stations, bikes, software etc.) is associated with NYCDOT as a private/public partnership. That’s why it’s DOT given the presentations at the different CBs. And you keep talking about profit like it’s taboo. I for one hope they make TONS of money so they can provide an even better amenity as New Yorkers realize what a convenient way it is to go about the city. I don’t know this for a fact but I wouldn’t be surprised if Motivate already pays DOT for all their work associated to citibike.
Jay, Citi Bike is renting bikes just like Avis, Hertz and all the
other car rental businesses in NYC are doing with autos. The difference is that Citi Bike is setting up on public land. As
far as parking being a right, it was until the post WW2 era and then the commercial streets had meters and you had to
rent the parking space by the hour, a major income source
forNYC. I don’t know if Citi Bike pays for it’s curb sites or not,
but it should.
WEA is one lane in each direction, RSD is two lanes in each
direction. WEA also has an enormous amount of double
parked trucks and school busses and many more people
crossing east and west all day long. Does anybody know what Citi Bike pays to NYC to rent the public space it uses?
Manhattan mark, I’m not sure I follow what you are saying… Yes, selling bikes are a for-profit business, but so is selling cars. What does that have to do with Citibike?
Free parking is not a right and times change. More cars are not necessarily the best thing for every place and every time. As seen in other parts of the city, bike share is a positive and it will be in the UWS. It’s time to get out of the past.
Zulu…The bikes are a for profit business, parking cars came
with the cars, imagine the past 100 years and what the Auto
industry did for the economy, if there were no place to keep
a car in large cities tens of millions of fewer cars wold have
been sold.
The key point for Riverside Drive above 72 St is that it has a bus route on it with stops every two to four blocks. The M5 is a fairly reliable bus route that runs fairly often. West End Avenue has no commuting links other than the crosstown bus locations and is densely populated. Walking distance to the streets with MTA routes is usually less than 750 feet from the avenues. There is plenty of room for Citibike stations on West End Avenue since the parking lane has been expanded. The median is also a place for bike stations.
I’m not certain whether citibike does or doesn’t pay the city for renting public space. But I’m curious to know why do you think they should pay anything at all when the parking spots on the roadway weren’t generating any revenue for the city nor are the spots on the sidewalk?
AC, that’s not how the system is intended to be used. It does make sense to put them within eyesight of subway stations as the purpose of the bikes is to complete that last “mile” of your commute, therefore an evenly spaced grid including subway and bus stops is preferred. As per DOT the average citibike ride takes 14 minutes which alludes to the fact that people may be taking it in lieu of the train and or bus. In my mind where citibike is going to shine is for those cross town trips where buses are notoriously slow.
Broadway, Columbus, and Amsterdam Aves have already been making headlines with the numerous vehicle fatalities. Adding bikes to these Avenues, will only exacerbate an already congested and dangerous condition. I believe they should be placed in areas where commuting issues exist and not where several alternatives exist.
With regards to cross town congestion. The MTA should try express buses along the cross town routes. The major delay is that some of their current stops are at the subway exit. Once the train arrives, the conga line starts! This happens at B’way, CPW, and Lexington Avenue. My improvement suggestion? Create 5 express stops, and away from the subways. On the West Side, the first stop should be West End and followed by Columbus Avenue. On the East side, the stops could be Madison; 2nd Avenue, followed by York Avenue.
The remaining buses could remain local. This would alleviate the congestion, which is the primary source of the tardiness.
AC, do you realize that Columbus Av. has a class 1 protected bike lane? Are you saying that Manhattan does not have commuting issues? By your own volition we have conga lines at crosstown buses and subway ridership is at a seam busting high. Yes, there is a lot of congestion on these avenues but as proven below 59th St. bikeshare works and continues to do so in spite of traffic. With this phase 2 extension it will only get better. In addition there will be safety in numbers, and when the use of bikes for commuting becomes prevalent and common place everybody tends to find their place on the road.
As far as the buses go, for efficient crosstown service the buses are going to need more than a painted lane and preboarding payment. A grade separation is needed for unimpeded travel, until then it’s just icing on the proverbial sh!t cake.
All over the city where there are already citibike stations, they are located near to subway stations, this would not be unique to the UWS. You can only use the citibike for 45 minutes at a time with your membership and many people need to ride the bike from, say riverside blvd, to the 1 train at 72nd, that makes sense, not riding to 74th street and Amsterdam and having to walk two blocks and one avenue to get to the train. Not to mention that the cross streets at 72nd, 66th, 86th, are major stops for up and downtown commuters who wish to also cross town (provided there will be equal chances to dock and obtain citibikes on the east side) and using a bike is so much faster then the bus or walking. But needing to walk two to 4 blocks out of my way seems poorly thought out at best. Have you used the citibike system? Understand it is not merely for people to ride on the river.
a station on WEA and 87th st would be ridiculous and dangerous as there is a nursing home at end of block with ambulances constantly driving down the block and that corner is going to have construction from the sale of the school there.
sorry, but must disagree completely with you on that one. W. 87 and WEA (between WEA and Bway) is a sleepy block of garages. it’s a good place to put citibikes. There’s no parking allowed there anyway, except at night or on Sundays.
What I don’t get is how to read those maps. I find them nearly incomprehensible, let alone illegible.
Sorry, but I must disagree with what you said about 87th street. First of all, the proposed site is not between WEA and Bway but between WEA and Riverside where the Nursing home is. 2nd, the map identifies it as being in front of a high school but that building was sold and is now going to be converted in to condos with a new entrance right where they are proposing the bikes. 3rd, your original statement about 87th between WEA and Bway being sleepy is not correct. It is a major passthrough of the M86 bus, there are two garages there and soon one of them will be torn down for an 18 story condo. All bad reasons to put the bikes there.
I am puzzled by what seems to be need to have Citibike stations within one or two blocks of a subway station?
As another commenter noted, people who are able to bicycle are physically able to walk a couple of blocks.
Most people who use the subway and/or bus end up walking several or more blocks to destinations. Walking is part of being in NYC.
as a person who drives occasionally when I rent a car, I can tell you that the amount of parking on the upper Westside is limited to begin with. Between the spots reserved for school personnel and all the spots reserved for police plus the multitude of constant construction projects and other driver in general who do not know how to park so that more than one car can fit a space big enough for almost 3 cars,it can take me sometimes 2 hours of driving around burning gas to find an empty spot that is legal! So that is my reason for not wanting citi bike in the area unless it can be placed where it will not impact the already horrendous parking situation! Not to mention that the majority of people I see on citi bikes do Not wear helmets (which are required by law) and they don’t obey the traffic laws! I’ve seen this with my own eyes all over downtown and myself almost getting hit by a wrong way biker! So I’d like to see how this al plays out!
Regarding “spots reserved for school personnel”: Have you noticed how public schools like PS 87 on W 78 St has no parking in front of their school for school buses to load and unload, whereas other schools hold spaces for those who work at the school, but allow buses to clog the surrounding area. For example, take the Manhattan Day School yeshiva on W 75. Their buses double park without their drivers present inside their vehicles, preventing cars from leaving or taking parking spaces. This happens every day. And let’s not forget what happens on alternate side days when taxis double park illegally so drivers can pray at the local mosque. I know this is all about Citibikes, but how many new bike riders are going to obey traffic laws, such as stopping at red lights, driving with rather than against the flow of traffic, etc…
Why would you drive 2 hours looking for a spot? Just put the car in a garage.
I’ve lived in the neighborhood without a car for years. Twice I’ve needed to park a rental car on the street overnight and found a spot in 5 minutes. I don’t follow how you spent 2 hours driving around looking for one. But one time I was looking for a Citibike station in the UWS and I had to look for one for 2 years.
Zulu is right, there’s a helmet law for children 14 and under.
+1 for two years, well played.
Kenna, FYI helmets are not required by law unless you’re under the age of 16 (could be 14 but I’m not exactly sure). Yes some bicyclists due run lights and go the wrong way down a street. Guess what, car drivers do that to with far worse consequences and almost complete impunity. The death count for pedestrians in 2014 was over 140 people. Most were hit and runs and the vast majority of drivers never even got even a ticket! Not even when the pedestrian was on the crosswalk with the signal. Windshield perspective in this city runs strong but it is slowly changing. And yes parking is very tough in this city, what were you expecting, it’s one of the most dense cities in the US. Complaining about parking in NYC is like going to the beach and whining about sand in your toes.
Hell yes! This is going to make my commute so much better. So long subway!
If I’m reading the map correctly it looks like they are planning on putting a bike station on 81 street and Columbus Ave. This is a very busy street and not a safe place for a bike station. A better corner would be the north east corner of 80 or 82 or 83 and Columbus Ave. -there is much less traffic on these streets. Putting a station on 81 and Columbus Ave. is an accident waiting to happen.
81st St. west of Columbus is a one way street with two lanes of traffic turning right onto Columbus. I don’t see why it would be an accident waiting to happen or any more dangerous than any other station. But if it’s to be moved the obvious location would be on the floating parking by the protected bike lane on Columbus not further north where there is another station on 84th st.
Why no stations above 107th?? It would be great to have a station near the Park at 110th for use by subway riders. Seems like an obvious location. What is the reason, if any, not put put a station in this location?
I live at 101 West 81 St. There is no room to put Citibikes in front of our building. As it is now we have to step aside when a baby carriage passes. The fire hydrant in front of the building must be kept free at all times obviously. Crosstown busses pass directly in front. I agree it would be better to put bikes in the big sidewalk space by AMNH and next to the BIKE LANE.
Also, having a cross town bus going by is really not that much different to a bike share station than it is to a parked car. When people get in and out of their cars they have to open their doors into the travel lanes. Undocking and docking a bicycle is very similar to the operation described above and would not disrupt traffic any more than cars do today.
Hi Lee,
Not to worry with the sidewalk because that station is designated to go on the roadway in lieu of parked cars. You’re right, the hydrant needs to stay clear and I’m sure DOT will not block it. With that said, I agree with you the station would be much better located on the superblock where the AMNH is, or on the floating park lane on Columbus itself just south of 81st. However, there are two things that come to mind that may preclude those locations: 1) the arts fair/farmers market that take place on the side walk of the museum and 2)Columbus Av. is the staging area for the Thanksgiving Day Parade balloons. Feel free to write to office@cb7.org and let them know of your concerns.
More Bikes, less cars. A win-win for New Yorkers and New York City.
We don’t need no “stinking” Citi Bikes stations at the 72nd St. 1, 2, and 3 lines.
Verdi Square Park has more than enough activity in a rather narrow space. Who needs bicyclers plowing through the crowds of people trying to get to the trains with their school bags, groceries and children in tow.
Additionally, the UWS in the area around Amsterdam, Columbus, and Broadway between 72nd Street already is overcrowded with all the traffic going to and from the banks, Fairway,the Beacon and now with Summer upon us — the ever present street fairs and outdoor cafes.
Also, don’t forget all the people who already ride on the sidewalks and all the delivery guys who always seem to be going in the wrong direction on a one-way street.
If you want to ride a bicycle, do it in Central Park or move to Kansas, Wisconsin, Vermont or New Jersey.
It would be a good tradeoff fir then to give us reserved parking for local residents. So many cities offer this. Parking is so tough and so expensive in Manhattan. Why not carve out some parking for resident permits?
Keep those damn bikes below 60th Street!!!
I live across from Merkin Hall on West 67th Street and just learned of the proposed station in front of it. Why were signs not posted in the proposed areas to alert residents to give us time to comment? When a restaurant wants to renew a license, signs are posted all over the neighborhood.
Who is responsible for cleaning these stations? Street cleaners cannot access them. They will end up filthy, just like all the colored “newspaper” boxes which used to run 10-12 deep around the neighborhood, and which were never cleaned.
The proposed spot on the NW corner of 81st and Columbus will be both dangerous to the rider and a great cause of concern to bus drivers and other traffic coming down what is a main thoroughfare across the park. It is a narrow side street with parking that already carries too much traffic. This spot should be moved across to the corner with Theodore Roosevelt Park or elsewhere.
The proposed location at W81 and Columbus is on the heaviest trafficked W-E street corner in the area with the M79 bus and other east bound traffic from Amsterdam and Broadway. There is limited room for the turn lane as it is and this will only aggravate the issue.
The proposed Citibikes spot at 101 West 81 is impassable now by 2strollers. There is a fire hydrant at that corner. It’s a major crosstown bus route. Why not put the bikes on the Museum side NEXT TO THE BIKE LANE?
Has anyone actually looked at this proposed site? I don’t think so.
Putting a bike station on 81st off of Columbus Ave. is a HUGE mistake! It is already a busy corner, on a narrow street, that the M79 uses, as well as school buses going to the museum. It is a highly trafficked street. It would be extremely dangerous for the bikers. It would also cause many traffic jams.It should be placed on a street that is NOT a bus street.
Putting a bike station on 81st off of Columbus Ave. is a HUGE mistake! It is already a busy corner, on a narrow street, that the M79 uses, as well as school buses going to the museum. It would be extremely dangerous for the bikers and would also cause many traffic jams.It should be placed on a street that is NOT a bus street.
As part of the block association, and as part of Age-friendly NYC, I can’t imagine the stupidity of having the citi bikes on this uncongested? bus block! Please, please let’s further strategize ways to prevent this idiocy!
Just by virtue of being a bus block, crosstown bus block, a wrong direction block, a narrow, hilly block, and one overrun by school and tour buses either traveling to and from the museum or parking and waiting for their fares (usually leaving their motors running noisily for what could be hours)…something is WRONG!!!! I have also been advocating for citi trikes fo older adults! If 81st Street is a necessary location, why not consider the north east side , where there is enough sidewalk space on the side of Citibank, and it would be much more accessible….or 81st Street near Broadway (where Staples and Starbucks line the street with garbage bins…Even better would be West End Ave or CPW at 82nd Street.
It infuriates me to see cyclists going through red lights, going the wrong way, almost mowing down pedestrian. Are they above the law? There was plenty of room to put some of the stations inside Riverside Park instead of taking up limited parking spaces. Not everyone can afford to rent a garage, and YES, some of us need a car in NYC.