Citi Bike’s Lower Speed Limit Could Mean Longer Rides and Higher Costs for Riders

Slowing down Citi Bike’s electric bicycles may be benefiting the company financially while leaving riders with longer trips and higher charges.

Last October, then-Mayor Eric Adams directed Citi Bike to reduce the maximum speed of its gray pedal-assist electric bicycles from 18 mph to 15 mph. Lyft, which operates Citi Bike, initially objected to the change but ultimately followed the directive. Now, some riders argue that the slower speeds are effectively increasing what they pay.

“ If they’re getting slower, they’re getting more expensive,” said Andrew Kam, a frequent Citi Bike user. “It’s inconvenient to go slower, so they’re charging more and it’s a lesser service.”

Citi Bike members are charged 27 cents for every minute they spend riding an electric bike.

Kam examined how the lower speed affects the price of longer trips. He calculated that a six-mile journey from Chambers Street to 125th Street, traveling at the former 18-mph maximum, would take at least 20 minutes and cost $5.40 before accounting for stops. Under the current 15-mph limit, the same trip would require at least 24 minutes, bringing the minimum cost to $6.48.

The speed restriction, introduced during the final months of last year, came during a period when Citi Bike’s profits increased. Company records show that Citi Bike earned $24.7 million in profit in 2025, when ridership reached a record level, compared with $6.8 million in profit in 2024.

“ I don’t think a lot of people even realize that it happens because unless you were riding a Citi Bike every day, you wouldn’t realize that the speed decreased,” said Kam. “It was just a hidden tax on all Citi Bike users.”

When the 15-mph restriction was announced, First Deputy Mayor Randy Mastro described Citi Bike’s electric bicycles as “an emergency threat to life and property.” The order followed an incident in Williamsburg in which a 3-year-old girl was struck by an e-bike rider, increasing pressure on Adams to respond. The rider involved was not using a Citi Bike.

The speed restriction took effect shortly before early voting began in the mayoral election, which Adams ultimately lost. During his administration, Adams also ordered the removal of part of the protected bicycle lane on Bedford Avenue near the location where the girl was struck.

Kam’s concerns come as transportation advocates and several City Council members push for changes to Citi Bike’s pricing. Some are calling for a $3 maximum charge on e-bike rides for Citi Bike members.

“The policy to lower the Citi Bike speed limit was a sensible safety policy, but the implication for the impact on riders is that we pay more to get where we need to go,” said Councilmember Lincoln Restler, who introduced legislation aimed at reducing bike-share fares. “Ultimately we need to lower the costs of Citi Bike rides immediately. We have the most expensive bike share program in the world, and it’s not even close.”

Lyft increased Citi Bike prices again in January, marking the fifth consecutive year that fares had risen. The latest increase added $20 to the annual membership price. Under the new pricing, members could pay $12.15 for a 45-minute electric-bike trip, compared with $11.25 previously.

“We remain focused on keeping Citi Bike one of the best transportation options in NYC, and we look forward to continuing our discussions with the city on how best to keep the program affordable for riders as it continues to grow,” Lyft spokesperson CJ Macklin wrote in a statement. “As the only major U.S. bikeshare program that’s entirely privately financed, Citi Bike’s continued growth depends on the system remaining financially healthy, and we’re proud that years of investment are now allowing us to reinvest in expanding service for New Yorkers.”

The current agreement between New York City and Lyft runs through 2029. Officials in the Mamdani administration have indicated that the contract’s expiration could provide an opportunity to negotiate more affordable pricing for New Yorkers. Some transportation advocates have also urged the city to use taxpayer funding to subsidize Citi Bike and reduce what riders pay.

In much of New York City, Citi Bike faces little direct competition in the bike-share market. Lime, which operates a scooter-sharing service in portions of Queens and the Bronx where Citi Bike does not operate, is asking the city Transportation Department for permission to expand into additional areas. The company argues that greater competition could discourage Lyft from raising prices.

“Introducing competition for shared micromobility in New York would benefit riders, just as it has in countless cities around the world where Lime operates alongside docked bike share,” Lime spokesperson Juan Restrepo wrote. “We’d love the opportunity to serve more communities across the city, and extend the reach of our widely used discount programs.”

NYC Transportation News This Week

MTA explores major overhaul of subway announcements

New York City subway riders could eventually have an easier time understanding MTA announcements. The agency is seeking proposals to modernize its public-information technology throughout the subway system, including speakers, digital displays and help-point kiosks. The MTA has allocated $800 million for the effort.

The agency is seeking an “intelligent” speaker and amplifier system that could automatically adjust its volume according to noise levels on platforms. The planned system would also use AI assistance and support announcements in multiple languages. Planning documents indicate that 76 of the subway system’s 472 stations still rely on audio equipment that has not been upgraded in 40 years.

Rare subway collection discovered

A Brooklyn resident visiting a friend in Virginia came across an extraordinary collection of subway-related documents and memorabilia. The materials once belonged to Hugh A. Dunne, known as “Mr. Subways,” a longtime subway historian and collector who also briefly worked for the MTA.

Businesses offered money to move deliveries overnight

The city is launching a program designed to reduce daytime traffic by offering local businesses one-time payments if they move certain deliveries to overnight hours. The initiative is being financed through revenue generated by congestion pricing.

New bike lane proposal near Grand Central

The city Transportation Department is considering a design that would establish a bicycle lane around the elevated portion of Park Avenue as it curves around Grand Central Terminal.

NYC prepares for heavier traffic

The Department of Transportation has designated 20 days through the end of the year as potential gridlock days. More than half are expected in December, while several days immediately before Thanksgiving are also projected to experience particularly heavy congestion.

NJ Transit riders face service reductions

NJ Transit is preparing for major rail-service changes from Sunday, Oct. 11, through Sunday, Nov. 15. Every NJ Transit rail line except the Atlantic City Rail Line will be affected as construction crews work on the transition to the new Portal North Bridge.

Low-traffic neighborhood plans under consideration

A proposal before the City Council would require the Transportation Department to modify streets in five neighborhoods “with a focus on creating low-traffic neighborhoods through directing traffic away from residential areas.”

Judge blocks plan to leave some subway booths unstaffed

A Manhattan judge has temporarily prevented the MTA from moving forward with a plan that would permit certain subway token booths to operate without staff under limited circumstances.

Curious Commuter

Question from Adam in Queens

“What are those little thermometer stickers on the ceilings of the subway cars? I assume the HVAC is inside there but that doesn’t seem like something they’d need stickers to tell people.”

Answer

The stickers are indeed positioned where the subway cars’ HVAC equipment is located, but their purpose is not to identify the HVAC system. Instead, they mark the locations where MTA employees take temperature readings to verify that the air-conditioning systems are operating properly.

“All NYCT subway cars have these thermometer decals in them. They are placed intentionally on the ceilings and can be seen at either end of the car near HVAC diffusers,” said MTA spokesperson Hannah Beck.

The MTA began placing the decals in subway cars in 2008. Workers use a laser to scan each decal and obtain a temperature reading, allowing them to adjust the air-conditioning when needed. According to agency spokesperson Kayla Shults, subway cars are maintained between 72.5 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit, with the precise setting depending on the length of the car.