How a crew of hundreds maintains one of the world’s largest bike share systems.
Writing in Curbed, John Surico highlights the more than 1,000 Citi Bike employees who keep the system running and e-bikes charged as the summer peak season kicks off.
“In June alone, the average is 165,000 rides a day, and the teams at Citi Bike and Lyft, which owns the bike-share system, believe it will hit 200,000 before the year is out.” The company attributes this success in part to its new fleet of 15,000 e-bikes, which make up 65 percent of trips in the system.
For now, charging the batteries requires taking dead batteries to a Long Island City warehouse, then returning them to the bikes. Soon, Lyft plans to install electrified charging docks to reduce the need for bringing batteries back to the warehouse. According to Surico, “The company has projected that doing so at just 20 percent of its stations would replace 90 percent of swaps.”
FULL STORY: The Citi Bike Battery Crew Racing to Keep 15,000 Bikes Online
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Op-Ed: New York Should Double Down on Micromobility
The growing popularity of Citi Bike, shared e-scooters, and other small devices signal a need for the city to quickly expand its support of new modes with safe roads, charging infrastructure, and secure parking options in all parts of the city.
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Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
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Adaptive Reuse Will Create Housing in a Suburban Texas Strip Mall
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Study: Anti-Homelessness Laws Don’t Work
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Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
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JM Goldson LLC
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City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
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Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Jefferson Parish Government
Camden Redevelopment Agency
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