Citi Bike To Expand Into Riis Houses

EAST VILLAGE, NY — Riis Houses in the East Village is getting a new Citi Bike facility next year, officials announced on Tuesday.

The housing complex, run by the New York City Housing Authority, announced the addition of the massive Citi Bike facility for NYCHA residents as part of its ten year strategic plan, which launched in 2015. The new facility will serve a dual purpose for NYCHA residents in the East Village by providing more residents with access to Citi Bike and also bring more jobs to the area, officials said. (For more information on this and other neighborhood stories, subscribe to Patch to receive daily newsletters and breaking news alerts.)

Citi Bike and NYCHA leaders are hoping that the bike-sharing program can be a cost-effective and environmentally friendly transit option for NYCHA residents. Motivate, the company that runs Citi Bike,offers NYCHA residents a $5 per month Citi Bike membership. A regular-price membership costs about $15 per month.

An estimated 1,500 NYCHA residents are active members of Citi Bike, according to a statement from the agency. NYCHA Citi Bike membership has increased by 75 percent since July of 2016, according to the Luis Sanchez, the Department of Transportation's Manhattan borough commissioner.

The new facility, which will open next year, will have 3,200 square feet of space and room for bicycle repair and storage.

Lead image via Kathleen Culliton / Patch.