New York City Slows Down Citi Bike E-Bikes — Riders Furious Over Speed Limit Drop and Price Hike
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK — New York City officials have ordered Lyft, the operator of Citi Bike, to reduce the top speed of its electric bicycles from 18 mph to 15 mph, a move that’s sparking anger and debate among daily riders. The change comes as part of the city’s new safety directive requiring all e-bikes to follow a uniform 15 mph speed limit starting this week.
City Officials Cite Safety Concerns Behind New Speed Cap
According to the New York City mayor’s office, the reduced speed limit is aimed at improving road safety amid a rise in e-bike-related crashes and cyclist deaths. Over the past year, the city has recorded multiple fatal incidents involving high-speed e-bikes, prompting officials to act. “It’s about reducing chaos and making our streets safer for everyone,” one city spokesperson said. The new regulation follows months of discussion between the city and Lyft, which manages the massive Citi Bike program with tens of thousands of electric and pedal bikes across New York.
Cyclists Say the Change Makes Rides Slower — But Still More Expensive
Many daily commuters say they’re frustrated that the change will make their trips longer — without any reduction in cost. Lyft’s Citi Bike rentals charge by the minute, which means slower rides effectively increase the price for the same distance traveled. Rider Leigh Harlow told reporters, “If you’re decreasing the speed, you’ve effectively increased the price again. It’s a per-minute thing. So that really pissed me off.” Some riders argue that the city should instead focus on bike lane safety and car enforcement rather than punishing cyclists who rely on e-bikes for commuting.
Mixed Reactions Among New Yorkers
While regular e-bike users feel targeted by the policy, some New Yorkers support the change. Critics of e-bikes say they’ve contributed to an overwhelming sense of street chaos, with riders zipping through red lights and weaving between cars and pedestrians. Local resident Jerome Peel described himself as an “e-bike skeptic,” saying the rise of electric bikes has “undermined the urban cycling ethos.” But for loyal Citi Bike members like Dylan Chenfeld, who depend on e-bikes daily, the change feels like a step backward: “They’re already getting more expensive — and now they’re slower. What’s next?”
As the debate continues, city officials insist the goal isn’t to frustrate riders but to make cycling safer and more predictable for everyone. Still, for many commuters, New York’s newest regulation means their once fast-paced rides through Manhattan just got noticeably slower.
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