NYC POL wants to force Citi Bike to install the system to ban children from riding

One of the legislators in Brooklyn calls for an age verification program to prevent cyclists under the age of 16 from renting Citi bike Or even preparation account.

“We must use these tools to prevent cyclists under the age of 16, made by a City bike Account and immediate access to one of 20,000 electronic bicycles in the fleet, ” Council member Justin Branan He said in a letter on July 24 to the CEO of Lyft David Risher. “We must protect our youngest passengers on the road.”

Branan said, during an interview, that he was driven to contact Lyft after they heard of parents complaining about seeing young people under the age of 16 on electronic bicycles.

He said in the letter: “I hear from parents who are concerned about their children. This is a possible catastrophe pending its occurrence – and it can be fully prevented,” he said in the letter.

The council member said that he will pay legislation to request a conduct Lift It does not do it voluntarily, “Before a 14 -year -old is made a Citi bike account, seriously wounded or killed while riding EBIKE.”

Currently, the City City Recovery Agreement says that individuals should be 16 years old
Or larger ride.

But there is no way in place to verify the age of the bicycles. Branan pointed out that anyone with a mobile phone, email address and the payment method can create a new Citi Bike account in seconds.

The council member said: “The contestants simply raise their age by entering their birthday manually. There is nothing hindered by 14 years-or anyone younger-from renting a bike 15 miles per hour with only a few clicks on their phones.”

Brannan also claimed that there is no verification deviated from the RIDESHARE strict inspection program for car and even cycling programs elsewhere.

“This can be prevented,” he said. “To ensure the safety of contestants in cars, Lyft has the tools to check the age of hundreds of thousands, if not millions, from drivers on their Rideshare platform.”

Meanwhile in other markets where Lyft runs the bikeshare network like Mexico City, Branan pointed out that the contestants should use their phones to scan a form of identity to verify their age when creating a new account.

LIME, which runs a scooter in Queens and Bronx, also requires new or larger passengers to scan a form of definition to check their age, start “beginners’ mode” – slower speeds and a night wandering ban.

Bran was martyred with statistics showing an increase in the reported electronic cycling accidents.

In 2023, 76 % of the death of cycling in New York City They were on EbikesOr 23 deaths. Ebike Quintupled death rate from 2019 to 2023.

Last year, a minor criticized the Citi Bike Ebike bike to another contestant, and sent them to the hospital and destroy his bike. According to media accounts, no police report was submitted because the contestant was less than 18 years old.

In another case, a 16 -year -old man sued City a bike after her crash Break While riding EBKE in Brooklyn.

“I think Lyft should take immediate action and close a dangerous loophole to maintain cyclists-especially teenagers-safely. It has become a common practice for adolescents in New York City, hiring electronic bicycles and riding with a maximum speed without wearing helmets and without understanding how to ride them safely,” Branan told the Speaker of the Parliament in the speech.

“I was a teenager once. I was too. Maybe I was different from me, but I had very bad
Judgment in that era. I thought I was indomitable. A lot of things have changed since I was a child
But teenagers who do dangerous things are not one. “

Branan also requested that Lyft shared the breakdown and safety data for traditional bikes and Ebikes, which were divided by age, sex and other demographic groups.

He said that Lyft can help prevent tragedies with a “quick solution” for Citi bike using tools already have.

A LYFT spokesman confirmed that he had received a Brannan speech and is reviewing it.

A City spokesman had no comment.

But the company held meetings with Lyft recently last month, to discuss electronic bicycles and safety.