City authorities in New York City petition Lyft to implement user identification verification for their Citi Bike e-bikes to discourage underage usage.
In response to a request from City Hall, Lyft has announced plans to roll out an age verification system for users of Citi Bike electric bicycles within three months. This move aims to ensure that riders are at least 16 years old, addressing safety concerns over underage use and rising e-bike collisions in New York City.
The announcement follows a formal request from First Deputy Mayor Randy Mastro, who cited safety concerns and referred to a recent Daily News op-ed by Bradley Tusk. Mastro's letter stated that underage riders frequently fail to use proper safety equipment.
According to the letter, annual members accounted for 3.87 million of the June rides, while casual users accounted for about 982,000. In June, Citi Bike riders took a total of 4,856,367 trips, averaging 161,879 rides a day.
Citigroup, a Citi Bike partner, supports the age limit and has warned that the city will take "appropriate steps" if Lyft does not act promptly. Brooklyn Council Member Justin Brannan wrote to Lyft last month, urging for an age verification measure to block users under 16 from creating Citi Bike accounts.
Lyft's Urban Solutions president, Michael Brous, emphasized that safety is the top priority. However, he noted that the process is expected to be complex, involving steps such as vendor evaluation, selection, negotiation, engineering scoping, execution, and the safeguarding of user privacy.
The exact method for verification (e.g., driver's license upload or other) has not been finalized. Lyft aims to balance minimizing friction for users while effectively preventing underage riders from accessing the bikes.
This change comes amid safety concerns over rising e-bike collisions in NYC, up more than 30% year-to-date, and follows a recent city mandate reducing Citi Bike e-bike speeds from 18 mph to 15 mph to address risks.
Lyft agreed to reduce Citi Bike e-bike speeds to 15 mph last month, following an emergency mandate from First Deputy Mayor Randy Mastro. The company's terms of service state that the minimum age allowed for Citi Bike's e-bikes is 16. Non-members are charged 38 cents per minute for e-bike rides, while Reduced Fare Bikeshare members pay 13 cents per minute. Annual members pay 25 cents per minute, capped at $5 for trips 45 minutes or less that start or end in Manhattan.
Discussions on the topic have been ongoing between Citigroup and Lyft. Sources indicate that Citigroup's Head of Enterprise Services and Public Affairs, Ed Skyler, met with Lyft in June to request enhanced verification procedures. A Lyft spokesperson said they are currently reviewing the letter from City Hall.
In summary, Lyft plans to launch an age verification system within months that will require Citi Bike users to prove they are at least 16 years old to ride electric bikes, following requests and pressure from New York City officials and safety advocates. The exact method for verification is yet to be finalized, but the company aims to balance user convenience with effective age verification.
- The age verification system planned by Lyft for Citi Bike users is not merely a response to city requests, but also a part of their commitment to the finance sector, given that Citigroup, a Citi Bike partner, supports the age limit for riders.
- The home-and-garden industry could potentially benefit from the new age verification system implemented by Lyft on Citi Bike, as it may lead to a decrease in e-bike collisions, thereby fostering a safer lifestyle in New York City.
- The automotive sector might find this development an intriguing point of discussion, as implementing an age verification system on electric bicycles could pave the way for similar age restrictions on self-driving cars in the future.
