Terry Bennett signed up for Citi Bikes when the bike-sharing service first launched in the city five-and-half years ago.
"I’m closing in on 5,000 miles on Citi Bike," Bennett said.
Now using a Citi Bike is going to be even easier for Bennett and other New Yorkers, and he's thrilled.
"People in the outer boroughs want Citi Bike,” said Bennett. "People in underserved parts of Manhattan want Citi Bike."
The ride sharing company, Lyft, acquired Citi Bike in July, and announced Thursday a $100 million expansion over five years, saying it will double Citi Bike's service area to 35 square miles, and triple the number of Citi Bikes to about 40,000. The company says the expansion will require adding more than 1,000 full-time jobs to its local workforce.
But New York City and Citi Bike officials are vague about some key details.
"I really love to use the Citi Bike,” said Charlotte Green, another member of the bike-sharing service. “I use it for every commute to every meeting so it would be great if they would elaborate a little bit more."
It's yet to be determined where the bike-sharing service will expand. The city's transportation commissioner says neighborhoods losing train service when the L line shuts down for repairs will be one target. Beyond that, she says only that the city and Lyft will work with community leaders in deciding where Citi Bikes will grow.
The system’s largest parts are currently located in Manhattan and sections of western Queens and Brooklyn.
"We have a pretty elaborate siting process to make sure we’re putting them in places where the public wants them," said Commissioner of the New York City Department of Transportation Polly Trottenberg.
NY1 reported last year that protected bike lanes and bike-share stations had replaced 2,330 on-street parking spaces in Manhattan south of 125th Street. And, in the case of the bike-sharing stations, there was hardly any community input. Some drivers are alarmed by the expansion plan.
"Sometimes we get like about 10 tickets a day. Because, like I said, there’s no allocation for truckers at all,” truck driver Clarence Austin said. “And so to me, it’s ridiculous. It’s really ridiculous.”
As part of its new agreement with the city, Citi Bikes will add more pedal assist bikes, and expand its program of discounted memberships for low-income New Yorkers.