New York City Bike Share Program
New York City’s bike share program, called “Citi Bike” was officially launched over Memorial Day weekend of this year. The first day of the program was Memorial Day Monday — a day on which traffic was lighter because of the holiday.
Readily available bikes in major cities like New York and Washington, together with planned bike lanes and safe roadway considerations can make for pleasurable travel around our busy metropoli
An article in the New York Times referred to the launch as a day when “New Yorkers sat astride the city’s first new wide-scale public transportation in more than 75 years: a fleet of 6,000 bicycles, part of a system known as Citi Bike, scattered across more than 300 stations in Manhattan below 59th Street and parts of Brooklyn.”
Bike share programs are cropping up in cities all over the country. Right here in the District of Columbia, riders can hop on a bike at the many stations that make up Capital Bike Share.
Of course, the benefits of biking vs. riding in a car or bus are well-known: more exercise for the rider, less emissions from a vehicle, and less traffic congestion on the roadways.
Bike share also brings up safety concerns, according to bike safety lawyer Doug Landau of the Herndon law firm Abrams Landau, Ltd. A less-experienced cyclist navigating a bike on busy city streets can pose a hazard. Do occasional bike riders know the biking “rules of the road”? Do they know — and use — appropriate hand signals to help drivers anticipate their actions? Are they wearing reflective, bright-colored, bicycle-safe clothing? Are they wearing a helmet?
A more recent article in the New York Times even raised the question of bar-hoppers getting on a bike after having a few drinks.
Lawyer Landau applauds bike sharing programs and believes that, overall, they are beneficial to the public. He cautions users of these borrowed bikes, however, to ride safely, carefully, and lawfully. If you or someone you know has been involved in a bike accident and there are questions as to what laws apply, email or call Abrams Landau, Ltd. at once (703-796-9555).