Today, Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla, Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop, and Lyft launched a newly unified bikeshare system that will include 820 bikes across Jersey City and Hoboken with a celebratory bike ride beginning at Jersey City Hall, followed by a ribbon cutting at Hoboken's Pier A. Hoboken will be utilizing Citi Bike as its exclusive bike share operator for the first time, while Jersey City will expand existing Citi Bike operations into three additional neighborhoods, and the program will operate under a five year agreement. For the first time, the fleet will be comprised of both pedal bikes and pedal-assist e-bikes - providing more options to best meet diverse riding preferences and allow riders of varying physical abilities to take longer rides, easily climb hills, and arrive at their destination more quickly. Citi will continue to sponsor the expanded system.
“I am incredibly thrilled to officially launch Citi Bike in Hoboken today,” said Mayor Ravi S. Bhalla, City of Hoboken. “Citi Bike is a proven method of alternative transportation that will instantly provide critical first-mile, last-mile options for our residents and visitors, and substantially improve the quality of life in our Mile Square. Bringing Citi Bike to Hoboken reflects a commitment that I made to residents when I came into office to improve our bike share system, and I am proud to work with Mayor Fulop and his team to create greater connectivity between our two cities. Thank you to Director Ryan Sharp and Greg Francese for working hard over the past year to make this day a reality.”
“We have worked to significantly expand our transportation infrastructure in a way that creates more affordable mobility options, closes transit gaps, increases access to jobs and education, improves connectivity, among countless other opportunities," said Mayor Steven M. Fulop, City of Jersey City. "Expanding our already successful Citi Bike program will not only provide integration with Hoboken for the first time, but Jersey City will also add two stations in Greenville within the first 60 days based on community feedback.”
"CitiBike is one of the most successful bikeshare programs in the world because of its long-term -- and increasingly regional -- public private partnerships with cities like Hoboken and Jersey City to create a network that meets the first- and last-mile commute needs of New Jersey residents, who often have bikeshare transportation needs on both sides of the Hudson," said Laura Fox, General Manager for Citi Bike at Lyft. "With the addition of pedal-assist ebikes and transit planning in both the Lyft and Citi Bike apps, Citi Bike riders in New Jersey will have more ways to get around that are fast, affordable, and convenient.”
"Citi Bike’s expansion into Hoboken marks an exciting day for the nation’s most popular bike share system," said Citi Head of Public Affairs Edward Skyler. "We’re extremely proud to support a sustainable, healthy and fun form of transportation.”
The new system will consist of 82 docking stations, including two stations in Greenville, and 29 new stations in Hoboken. The first of 300 new bikes were added in Hoboken today with several new stations now online, with additional stations and bikes to be added throughout May and June. In Hoboken, the new Citi Bike stations will primarily utilize the locations of the City's previous bike share operator.
The expanded system will continue to be a part of the Citi Bike regional network, accessible on both the Lyft and Citi Bike apps, and with annual members having access to all Citi Bikes across New York and New Jersey. Reduced fare Citi Bike memberships are available for Jersey City Housing Authority residents, Hoboken Housing Authority residents, and SNAP recipients.
Docking stations near regional transit hubs such as Hoboken Terminal, the Grove Street PATH Station and Journal Square help create seamless first- and last-mile connections to trains, buses, and ferries. Lyft has also added real-time transit arrivals in both the Lyft and Citi Bike mobile apps to help riders plan rides that include both bike share and regional transit systems such as PATH, HBLR, New Jersey Transit, and New York Waterway.
To celebrate Citi Bike’s expansion in New Jersey, Lyft is offering New Jersey residents a first 30-minute ride free on a Citi Bike Classic bike during Memorial Day weekend (5/28-5/31). New bike customers can use promo code NJEXPANSION21 in the Lyft app to redeem the offer and unlock a bike.
There will be a virtual town hall on the expansion held on Thursday, May 20th from 6:00 to 7:00 where residents can learn more about how the new program will work and ask questions. All attendees will receive a free day pass for Citi Bike. Attendees can register here.
“Making this partnership with Jersey City and Citi Bike a reality is a dream come true, said Hoboken's Green Team Chair and Councilman, Jim Doyle. As a long-time member of Hoboken’s Green Team, we are looking forward to the environmental benefits of getting more cars off the roads, not to mention the health and connectivity benefits this presents for our cities. It’s been a long time in the making and a welcome achievement.”
“We are happy to welcome Citi Bike back to Ward A as an additional transportation option for residents. We appreciate their willingness to work with my office on locations and set ups that are directly aligned with community needs,” said Jersey City’s Ward A Councilwoman Denise Ridley.
Chris Adair, President Bike Hoboken said: 'Bikeshare is invaluable in dense, urban areas like Hoboken. It offers people the convenience of a bicycle on demand, without the challenges of having your own, such as repairs, or having to carry it up four flights of stairs to your apartment. Having Citi Bike in Hoboken, Jersey City, and New York City will allow riders to seamlessly get around. We welcome Citi Bike and hope other cities in New Jersey, like Bayonne, Weehawken, Port Imperial and North Bergen will consider offering Citi Bike to their residents to help connect our growing region."
Patrick Conlon, President - BikeJC said: "The logic of having the same bicycle share system in adjacent municipalities is obvious and we are excited to see this becoming a reality. We also look forward to the promised increase of docks outside of downtown Jersey City and the implementation of a protected bike lane between Hoboken and Jersey City. We feel this will help build a more equitable system and add a vital connection to the growing bike lane network in both cities."
"While the benefits of cycling are well-documented, people and cities realize the full extent of these benefits when cycling is made safe, comfortable, and convenient for anyone and everyone," said Barkha Patel, Jersey City's Director of Transportation Planning. Since the development of our Vision Zero and Bicycle Master Plans, Jersey City has prioritized the rapid implementation of high-quality bike infrastructure and we have noticed significant increases in the number of people who bike as a result. This latest investment in bikeshare, including expansion of the existing system and introduction of e-bikes, is another step towards our goal of becoming one of the best cycling cities in the nation."
"The Hoboken Housing Authority welcomes Citi Bike as a part of our HHA Community. The value of available, nearby, and affordable transportation options to many HHA Residents cannot be overstated. With the installation of a bike station right at our Mama Johnson Field and reduced rates for HHA residents, our thanks go to Citi Bike and the City of Hoboken," said Hoboken Housing Authority Executive Director Marc Recko.
“The expansion of Citi Bike helps people of all incomes,” said Ron Bautista, Vision Zero Hoboken Task Force Member. “The bike share system will save users walking/traffic time, and in many instances avoid spending money on car services like Uber and the need to find parking within Hoboken and Jersey City.”
For dedicated commuters, Lyft offers an annual membership designed to keep riders pedal-powered on the more than 21,000 bikes in the system across New York and New Jersey. Riders will now be able to take a Citi Bike to the PATH in Hoboken and then take another bike to complete their journey once they reach Manhattan. For $179 per year, annual members can take as many 45-minute rides as they like on a Classic bike or upgrade to an e-bike for an additional $0.12/min. Currently, 70% of annual Citi Bike members in Jersey City also use Citi Bike in New York.
For non-members, a single ride on a Classic pedal bike costs $3.50 for up to 30 minutes. For an additional $0.18 per minute, riders can upgrade to an e-bike.
Lyft also offers a Citi Bike reduced fare membership that costs only $5 per month for Jersey City Housing Authority, Hoboken Housing Authority, and SNAP recipients, which includes unlimited free rides on Classic pedal bikes for up to 45 minutes. Per minute pricing on e-bikes is reduced to $0.05/minute for these riders.
The City of Hoboken has hired and will utilize micromobility code enforcement officers to help regulate the bike share system, and will be focusing on higher traffic areas including the waterfront and Washington Street in the early weeks of the program. Additionally, the City will be adding "E-bikes prohibited" signs along the waterfront walkway where e-bikes are prohibited per ordinance.
For any questions, concerns or complaints about the bike share program, residents can utilize the following resources:
Email address: bikeshare@hobokennj.gov
Hoboken 311 (click here)
Hoboken has launched a website dedicated to providing information about the Citi Bike program and frequently asked questions, along with Citi Bike:
Hoboken website: https://www.hobokennj.gov/resources/bike-share
Citi Bike NJ website: https://www.citibikenyc.com/nj
Citi Bike also has a Twitter account used for NYC and NJ programs: @CitiBikeNYC
Photo credit: City of Jersey City
