Brooklyn Boro

BP Adams leads ceremonial ride across Brooklyn Bridge in anticipation of L-Train shutdown

August 20, 2018 Brooklyn Daily Eagle
To kick off City Hall in Your Borough #inBrooklyn 2018, Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams joined Citi Bike, Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon and City Hall during a ceremonial ride across the Brooklyn Bridge to celebrate Citi Bike’s new pedal-assist bikes. Photos courtesy of the NYC Department of Transportation
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Citi Bike’s new pedal-assist bikes may just be the solution to the 15-month L-train shutdown that is slated for next April.

To celebrate the new bikes, Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, Citi Bike representatives and City Hall staffers rode the new bikes over the Brooklyn Bridge. Mayor Bill De Blasio had previously announced that pedal-assist bikes, which provide an electric boost that make it easier to climb hills and travel longer distance, would play an important role in providing alternative transportation during the East River tunnel shutdown.

“As an avid cyclist, it’s great to roll into City Hall’s week in Brooklyn on two wheels, with an assist from our new pedal-assist Citi Bikes,” said Adams. “This safe and eco-friendly mode of transportation has been particularly useful for immigrant workers and seniors across the five boroughs, and its inclusion in our bike share program helps make us a more inclusive city.”

“What better way for my team to roll out their hard work in Kings County this week than by having them start with a bicycle ride over the beautiful, iconic Brooklyn Bridge,” said de Blasio. 

In total, Citi Bike expects to add a total of 1,000 new pedal-assist bicycles to its fleet. The company plans to designate four conveniently located pedal-assist docking stations for its exclusive use — two in Williamsburg and two in Lower Manhattan.

Earlier this year, the de Blasio Administration also announced that it was working on a new framework to clarify the legality of pedal-assist bicycles, which in the past were often the target of police crackdowns. The new rule, which went into effect in July, legalizes pedal-assist bikes that have motors that turn only when the cyclist is pedaling and that turn off once the bike’s speed hits 20 mph.

“As our city prepares for the upcoming L train service disruptions, these new pedal-assist bicycles are an innovative and badly needed additional option for commuters,” said U.S. Rep. Nydia Velazquez (D-Brooklyn-Manhattan). 

In addition to the pedal-assist bikes, Citi Bike, to mitigate the effects of the L-train closure, will institute denser coverage in Midtown Manhattan and Williamsburg as well as more staffed valet stations.

 

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