As part of an ongoing commitment to safer cycling in New York, the Citi Bike program is installing an innovative new safety feature – the Blaze Laserlight on 250 bikes this winter. This pilot program aims to make Citi Bike riders more visible to drivers and pedestrians, creating safer conditions on the road and providing greater peace of mind to all.
According to Blaze, research on the Laserlight on London’s bike share fleet revealed that ‘a cyclist with a Laserlight at night is even more visible than a cyclist in daytime’. The company added that the majority of London bus drivers surveyed said the light made it easier to notice and react to cyclists at night, while 75% of cyclists felt more confident cycling with a Laserlight.
The Blaze Laserlight initiative also aims to grow ridership among women, whom studies have shown are more likely to ride in safer traffic environments with features such as protected bike lanes and one-way streets.
“By incorporating Blaze’s lights into the bike, we aim to keep New Yorkers on foot, behind the wheel and riding a Citi Bike safer and to improve the rider experience overall so that people of all backgrounds are inspired to try New York City’s popular bike share program,” said Jay Walder, President & CEO of Motivate, the operator of the Citi Bike program.
“Bike share is an extremely safe way to get around, and we are proud to work with Blaze to welcome every rider to Citi Bike while helping our city get ever closer to our Vision Zero goals.”
“It’s great to see efforts to incorporate new features into our bikeshare system to increase safety for riders and other street users,” said Council Transportation Chair Ydanis Rodriguez. “This step will make drivers more aware of cyclists, lowering the chances of a crash. This is something other cities have employed and I’m glad Citi Bike is keeping pace.”
“Blaze are delighted that Citi Bike will pilot the Laserlight this winter,” said Emily Brooke, Founder and CEO of Blaze. “We have been working with Motivate for over a year to develop a brand new product that brings our innovative projection technology to the streets of New York. It also includes improved front lighting and connectivity, making cycling with a Citi Bike even safer and more enjoyable.”
The Citi Bike program is New York’s bike share system. It has 10,000 bikes at over 600 stations, and will have 12,000 bikes by the end of this year. Stations are currently located in Manhattan as far north as 110th Street and in the Brooklyn neighborhoods of Downtown Brooklyn, DUMBO, Brooklyn Heights, Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Bedford-Stuyvesant, Williamsburg and Greenpoint, and in Long Island City, Queens, with bike stations located every few blocks. The program has expanded this year into Harlem, Park Slope, Boerum Hill, Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens, Gowanus and Red Hook.
Annual members receive an electronic key to undock a bike from any station, allowing unlimited trips up to 45 minutes without incurring any additional costs. Twenty-four-hour passes are available for purchase at any Citi Bike station or through the Citi Bike app and provide unlimited 30-minute trips. Reduced cost memberships are available for NYCHA residents and members of select credit unions throughout the city, and for IDNYC holders in their first year of membership.
