Does Citi Bike's Price Increase Promote Reckless Riding In NYC?

"I feel that pressure. I want to lock it and unlock it very quickly. The fare hikes honestly encourage me to bike more aggressively and cut through traffic to reduce my ride time/cost. Per-minute pricing and regular fee hikes impact rider behavior by creating incentives to minimize financial burden through faster, riskier riding patterns."

"I can absolutely see somebody looking at their watch and thinking, 'I'm at 42 minutes and [if] I have this many blocks to go, I'm just going to run a couple lights and try to get there in time because I don't want to be charged.' The pricing likely played a role in the relative lack of safety observed among Citi Bike e-bike riders."

"A recent Hunter College survey observed that Citi Bike e-bike riders were 14 percent less likely than delivery workers and others on e-bikes to yield to pedestrians at congested intersections. The pricing structure creates measurable safety disparities in how different e-bike users interact with pedestrian traffic."

Lyft's Citi Bike system has raised prices for the fifth consecutive year, with e-bike rates increasing significantly to 27 cents per minute for annual members and 41 cents per minute for casual users. The per-minute pricing structure creates financial pressure on riders to complete trips quickly, leading them to bike more aggressively and cut through traffic. A Hunter College study found that Citi Bike e-bike riders were 14 percent less likely than other e-bike users to yield to pedestrians at congested intersections. Riders and researchers acknowledge that the escalating costs directly influence dangerous behavior, including running red lights to minimize ride duration and associated charges.

Read at Streetsblog