A behind-the-scenes look at Citi Bike operations

What it takes to keep Citi Bike rolling

The complex daily choreography that makes Citi Bike work for thousands of riders every single day is remarkable to witness. It's an ongoing story of teams, technologies, and innovations that have powered the system into becoming the most popular bikeshare network in North America.

The scale alone is impressive. Since launching in 2013, Citi Bike has rapidly evolved into North America's largest bikeshare system, with over 35,000 bicycles and 2,300 docking stations. In 2025, the system registered more than 46 million rides, 70% of which were made on ebikes.

Shining a light on operations

Operating at this magnitude requires precision. Keeping the wheels turning demands robust operations, expert staff, and sophisticated tech tools to ensure a seamless and reliable user experience. 

Every day, hundreds of associates at Motivate, a field operations subcontractor for Lyft Urban Solutions, maintain continuous operations to keep the system running smoothly, from bike maintenance and repairs at specialized depots to recovering and rebalancing bikes across the network.

Coordinating all of this is Lyft Urban Solutions' custom-built operational platform, which connects in real-time with bikes and stations across the system. This tool monitors system health and bike availability, flags bikes or stations that need attention, and creates tasks to ensure field teams respond efficiently.

One of the most critical and constant tasks is bike rebalancing. Teams work around the clock to ensure bikes and docks are available where and when riders need them, an effort that's essential to keeping riders happy and the system convenient to use.

The rise of ebikes

The scale of operations has evolved alongside a major shift in rider preference. The surging popularity of ebikes is remarkable. According to the 2024 Shared Micromobility State of the Industry Report by NABSA, 66% of all shared micromobility trips in North America were taken using electric vehicles (bikes or scooters). This trend is even more pronounced in New York City: 75% of Citi Bike riders opt to go electric when at a station with both an ebike and a pedal bike. 

Meeting this demand has required infrastructure innovation. To improve rider experience and reduce the need for manual battery swaps, more Citi Bike stations are being directly connected to the electrical grid. These stations allow bikes to charge when docked, significantly improving ebike availability, operational efficiency, and the sustainability of the system.

Ready to see how it all comes together? Watch our exclusive video to experience a day in the life of Citi Bike operations, where cutting-edge technology meets boots-on-the-ground expertise to keep millions of rides rolling.