Keeping NYC’s E-Bike Fleet Charged and Running

How a crew of hundreds maintains one of the world’s largest bike share systems.

1 minute read

July 3, 2024, 6:00 AM PDT

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


Close-up of Citi Bike electric bikes at on-street station in New York City next to bike lane with woman walking a bike.

Tada Images / Adobe Stock

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.”

Tuesday, July 2, 2024 in Curbed

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Use Code 25for25 at checkout for 25% off an annual plan!

Redlining map of Oakland and Berkeley.

Rethinking Redlining

For decades we have blamed 100-year-old maps for the patterns of spatial racial inequity that persist in American cities today. An esteemed researcher says: we’ve got it all wrong.

May 15, 2025 - Alan Mallach

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

May 14, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Front of Walmart store with sign.

Walmart Announces Nationwide EV Charging Network

The company plans to install electric car chargers at most of its stores by 2030.

May 7, 2025 - Inc.

Aerial view of Albuquerque, New Mexico at sunset.

New State Study Suggests Homelessness Far Undercounted in New Mexico

An analysis of hospital visit records provided a more accurate count than the annual point-in-time count used by most agencies.

May 16 - Source NM

Close-up on white bike helmet lying on pavement with blurred red bike on its side in background abd black car visible behind it.

Michigan Bills Would Stiffen Penalties for Deadly Crashes

Proposed state legislation would close a ‘legal gap’ that lets drivers who kill get away with few repercussions.

May 16 - Wood TV 8

Muni bus on red painted bus-only lane in downtown San Francisco, California.

Report: Bus Ridership Back to 86 Percent of Pre-Covid Levels

Transit ridership around the country was up by 85 percent in all modes in 2024.

May 16 - Mass Transit