Transit & Streets Quiet since Sep 26 Updated Sep 26, 2026
The fight over Citi Bike's e-bike prices
New York City's per-minute Citi Bike fares mean last October's mayor-ordered cut in e-bike speed, from 18 mph to 15 mph, made routine trips slower and costlier for riders, while operator Lyft's Citi Bike profit nearly quadrupled to $24.7 million in 2025. Council Member Lincoln Restler has introduced a bill capping member e-bike rides at $3, Lime is seeking permission to compete for New York's bike-share market, and the city's exclusive Lyft contract runs through 2029, setting up a fight over pricing and competition as the program grows.
The story so far
-
Sep 25, 2026 Latest
Gothamist reported that Citi Bike's October 2025 e-bike speed cap, cut to 15 mph from 18 mph after an e-bike rider struck a child in Williamsburg, combined with per-minute fares to raise costs for riders like Andrew Kam, who found a Chambers Street to 125th Street trip now costs at least $1.08 more. Lyft's Citi Bike profit rose to $24.7 million in 2025 from $6.8 million the year before, and Council Member Lincoln Restler has introduced a bill capping member e-bike rides at $3 while Lime seeks permission to compete in Citi Bike's territory.
Gothamist Follow this story as it moves.
The brief follows it every morning: when this storyline moves, the timeline above grows the same day. One short read, free, with the rest of New York explained alongside.
Free. One email each morning. One-click unsubscribe. Never sold.