New York’s Citi Bike bike share program has been delayed until March, numerous outlets reported. The city’s vendors split with their technology partner and are now writing their own software from scratch, said The Wall Street Journal. The program will launch with 7,000 bikes, eventually growing to 10,000. The delay will not cost taxpayers because the program is being largely funded by Citigroup Inc. and MasterCard Inc. Meanwhile, two startups are creating their own bike-share programs, according to The New York Times. Spinlister lets renters coordinate with owners to share; the cost is only about $20 a day. About 80 bikes are already listed in New York. Social Bicycles is more like the Citi Bike share program, but instead of riders having to pick up and drop off bikes at custom racks located throughout New York, the bikes are equipped with GPS and built-in locks. A smart phone app tells renters where to find a bike, and it can be unlocked by entering a code on the bike.
Bike-Share Racked as Tech Woes Continue [WSJ]
There’s More Than One Way to Share a Bike [NY Times]
BHA Protests Bike Share Locations, Issues Survey [Brownstoner]
Photo by Gothamist


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