ICYMI: Citi Bike Should Expand To Windsor Terrace, Kensington: Councilman

GOWANUS, BROOKLYN — Citi Bike should be expanded into Windsor Terrace and Kensington, City Councilman Brad Lander said Tuesday. The neighborhoods currently don't have any docking stations for the bike share system.

Lander, who represents the neighborhoods along with Park Slope, Gowanus, Carroll Gardens and Cobble Hill, made the remarks at the opening of Citi Bike's flagship operational facility in Gowanus.

"While I'm thrilled with all the neighborhoods where expansion is taking place, I’m very eager to make sure the residents of the South Slope, Windsor Terrace, Kensington and Sunset Park also have the opportunity to participate in this system," he said.

Citi Bike currently operates about 10,000 bicycles and 600 stations across parts of Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens. There are just two stations south of 15th street in Brooklyn, both sitting along the waterfront in Sunset Park.

The company currently has a proposal in front of the city to expand into all five boroughs and deeper into boroughs that already have service.

It's hoping to add 2,000 more bikes and 150 stations by the end of 2017.

"I have been an advocate and am going to continue to be an advocate for enabling Citi Bike to expand," Lander said. "There’s a lot of discussions underway about how we’re going to make that happen. But I couldn’t be more recommitted than I am today to making sure we continue to help expand the system and grow it so we have more good jobs and so that we have more opportunities for New Yorkers."

Lander told Patch afterward that part of his advocacy could include pushing for investment from the city, something he said Citi Bike hasn't needed yet.

"If it needs public investment — it’s a form of public transportation infrastructure," Lander said.

"I think it’s great they’ve gotten his far without any public investment. I think it’s great they’re now offering even an additional expansion without an additional public investment."

Regardless, he said he's going to keep being vocal about the issue.

"And we're just going to keep being out there," Lander told Patch. "I've said at many public hearings and public press conferences, this is a meaningful piece of public transportation. And it needs to be available equitably across the city, and not just neighborhoods that are near the Manhattan core, not just neighborhoods that are wealthier, but broadly throughout the city."

Image courtesy Citi Bike