Bikeshare as a Community Building Tool: Citi Bike Weekly Rides

To further our mission of delivering world-class, station-based micromobility solutions that empower and unite both cities and riders, Lyft Urban Solutions leverages community engagement teams and ride leaders to foster local connections. Each spring, as the weather warms, we begin hiring these local champions and coordinating weekly Citi Bike rides that make cycling more accessible and build stronger community bonds on city streets.

NYC Rides Through Our Communities

The Citi Bike Weekly Rides program has become an essential community engagement tool, bringing accessible and exciting biking experiences to New Yorkers of all ages and abilities. By supporting and teaming up with the city’s most trusted local ride leaders, we break down barriers that may have prevented people from cycling, empowering individuals to explore their city on two wheels through these free, weekly, beginner-focused outings.

To kickstart our programming in 2023, we brought on “NYC Bike Mayor”, Courtney Williams (aka the Brown Bike Girl) to train all of our ride leaders and set a baseline for what a beginner ride should look like. Recognizing that group rides can be intimidating for newcomers, especially with many existing rides geared towards experienced cyclists focused on peloton riding, we prioritized creating a welcoming space for those trying biking for the first time. Courtney's training effectively set the tone for inclusive group rides that are open to everyone regardless of their biking experience.

Our dedicated ride leaders are the heartbeat of this program's success, ensuring our rides are community-led and culturally responsive through their local expertise. In Harlem, our collaborations with NYC Home Team and El Barrio Bikes exemplify this: NYC Home Team’s rides focus on wellness and skill-building, while El Barrio Bikes offers established community rides supporting local businesses with engaging themes like hot chocolate, horchata, and mocktails. Similarly, in Jackson Heights, our partnership with the 34th Ave Coalition allowed us to host rides on their nationally recognized Open Street, where their deep understanding of the community's needs led to the inclusion of learn-to-ride classes for biking beginners. Beyond these examples, fantastic partners like GoodCo Bike Club in Flatbush and EastBKBikeClub in Brownsville have been invaluable in helping Citi Bike tap into existing community networks and expertise.

Since its launch, the Weekly Rides program has reached over 1000+ participants, a quarter of whom were first-time riders. With an average of 8 to 10 participants per ride, these aren't large gatherings but rather small-scale experiences designed to foster relationships. This intimate setting provides a direct line to a knowledgeable ride leader, who can guide newcomers through everything from their initial Citi Bike checkout to navigating safe cycling routes.

Investing in Local Ride Leaders

Given the need to cultivate local leadership in areas lacking existing bike clubs or ride leaders, Citi Bike launched Ride Leader Academy in 2024. This initiative aims to empower the next generation of leaders, with a primary focus on low-income and BIPOC communities, by providing a stipend, professional training, and the opportunity to lead future community rides. Our first open call across the service area received a strong response, with over 50 New Yorkers applying. Now, our first cohort is gearing up to become League Certified Instructors, further professionalizing them in the world of cycling. The Ride Leader Academy has already become a triumph in identifying and nurturing new ride leaders, with plans to further engage them in Citi Bike’s future programs.

The momentum of the Ride Leader Academy and Citi Bike rides continues into 2025, with our team already planning further training for new leaders and a full schedule of rides throughout the year. Our recent ride in March with the organization Black Girls Smile exemplifies this ongoing commitment, bringing women to bikeshare for an empowering ride focused on mental health. Lyft Urban Solutions is committed to scaling our support for impactful programs like these nationwide, fostering stronger networks and stronger communities one ride at a time.