July 24, 2015 By Jackie Strawbridge
Citi Bike’s highly anticipated expansion into western Queens will begin in early August, the Department of Transportation announced Friday.
Through the expansion, Long Island City will get 12 Citi Bike stations this year.
New stations will also come to the Brooklyn neighborhoods of Greenpoint, Williamsburg and Bedford Stuyvesant (20, 33 and 26 stations, respectively), as well as the Upper East Side and Upper West Side (27 and 21 stations) in Manhattan.
In all, the Citi Bike network will double in size from 6,000 bikes to 12,000 over the course of two years.
The Department of Transportation announced plans for the network expansion last fall. This announcement came at a time of transition for Citi Bike, with new ownership and former MTA CEO Jay Walder taking the helm. Fees to use the bikes also jumped at this time.
An annual Citi Bike membership costs $149. A 24-hour pass costs $9.95.
“For years I have fought to bring Citi Bike to Queens and I’m proud to say that the blue bikes will be here soon,” Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer said in a statement.
“Cycling in western Queens has become extremely popular and the addition of 12 new Citi Bike docking stations add a much-needed alternative mode of transportation to an area of the borough that is growing and vibrant, and in need of more transportation options,” Van Bramer added.
“I am thrilled to see western Queens being given the opportunity to enjoy the benefits of Citi Bike,” State Sen. Michael Gianaris said in a statement. “Bike share will allow the people to enjoy our neighborhood in a healthy, fun way and facilitate easier travel around western Queens, an area in dire need of better mass transit.”
According to an online Citi Bike location map, bike stations will be placed at the following locations:
- Center Boulevard and Borden Avenue
- Vernon Boulevard and 50th Avenue
- 48th Avenue and Vernon Boulevard
- 46th Avenue and 5th Street
- Jackson Avenue and 46th Road
- 45th Road and 11th Street
- 44th Drive and Jackson Avenue
- 9th Street and 44th Road
- 21st Street and 43rd Avenue
- Queens Plaza North and Crescent Street
- 21st Street and Queens Plaza North
- 31st Street and Thomson Avenue
An additional expansion phase, which will include stations in Astoria, will follow this expansion.
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5 Comments
how many parking spaces are we losing for all of this?
YES! YES! YES! YES! YES!
What about Sunnyside,we r only 10 blocks from LIC,why are we always left out. Are the people buying studios in LIC for $650,000 really interested in biking? Everyone is now moving to Sunnyside,even Jimmy Van Bramer lives here.
We are always left out? I would like this and there are so many young people moving into the area. Are you making bike lanes,so it’s safer on Queens Blvd?
Why councilman do u not fight for the area u live in?
Queens blvd. is also known as “the boulevard of death” you’re delusional.
Cary, calm down. Shitty Bike will eventually make its way to Sunnyside maybe even outside your home. If it never happens then that sucks but from what I hear life moves on.