Cycling in New York City - Utility Cycling

Utility Cycling

Delivery bikes are commonly used in New York for fast food deliveries over short distances, sometimes using mountain bikes outfitted with a lock box (for money), a wide carrier for larger loads such as pizza or other accessories. Electric bicycles are increasingly used for this service, their illegality being sporadically enforced. Bicycle messengers use narrower wheels to carry lighter loads short distances. Specialized cargo bicycles and tricycles carry heavier loads.

Pedicabs became commonplace at the turn of the 21st century, offering novel travel over short distances, including guided tours of Central Park. In April 2007 the New York City Council voted to limit the number of pedicabs to 325. A court overturned the limit, later regulatory efforts concentrated on requirements for insurance and safety equipment and in April 2011, new legislation tightened parking regulations and capped pedicab licenses at 850.

In 2007 the Department studied the prospects of a bicycle sharing system and announced in 2011 that kiosks would be built for the service to begin in 2012 with 10,000 bikes at 600 stations operated by Alta Bicycle Share, operators of Capital Bikeshare and similar schemes in other US cities. Citigroup will pay to advertise on the bikes and the system will be named Citi Bike. Draft maps in 2012 indicate stations between 60th Street in Manhattan, the Hudson River, Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn, and Bushwick Avenue. Introduction is expected in March 2013 and expansion is anticipated.