The Hidden Tax on Your Ride
Here’s the deal: your Citi Bike ride just got slower, and you’re paying the price for it. New reporting from Gothamist reveals that a speed cap ordered by the previous Adams administration is acting as a hidden tax on riders while pumping money into Lyft’s pockets. Andrew Kam, a frequent rider, put it plainly: “If they’re getting slower, they’re getting more expensive.” It’s a classic case of getting less service for more cash.
Kam crunched the numbers on a standard six-mile trip from Chambers Street to 125th Street. When the limit was 18 mph, the ride took about 20 minutes and cost $5.40. Now that the cap is at 15 mph, that same trip takes at least 24 minutes and jumps to $6.48. That’s a direct cost increase just because the bike can’t go as fast. Kam remarked that few people notice the speed drop unless they use a Citi Bike daily.
Profits Soar While Riders Stumble
While regular New Yorkers are stuck paying more for slower rides, the company is making bank. Records show Citi Bike turned a $24.7 million profit in 2025, a massive jump from the $6.8 million profit the year before. This surge in earnings correlates directly with the time the speed limit was imposed. It’s a sweet deal for Lyft, but a raw one for the people using the service. According to reports, this situation functioned as a concealed tax levied on every Citi Bike user.
The speed limit wasn’t pulled out of thin air. It came after First Deputy Mayor Randy Mastro called the e-bikes “an emergency threat to life and property” following a tragic incident in Williamsburg where a three-year-old was struck. While safety is paramount, the financial impact on riders is undeniable. One rider stated that slower speeds are inconvenient, yet the cost is higher while service quality drops.
The Mamdani Administration’s Next Move
Now the ball is in the Mamdani administration’s court. Streetsblog NYC points out that while activist groups are pushing for safer streets, Lyft has been conspicuously silent on what the new administration should do. They’re not defending their service or explaining the price hike to the public. The company needs to step up and address the impact on riders instead of letting their profits ride high on a slower service.
The City Council is set to host a major hearing on September 30, dubbed “Super Bowl Wednesday,” to discuss nearly two-dozen bills regarding e-bikes. Several of these bills directly affect Citi Bike’s business model. This is the moment for real accountability. The city can’t just let a private company raise prices under the guise of safety without a fight.
Mark Your Calendar for the Fight
Here is the concrete next step for every New Yorker who cares about this: the City Council hearing on September 30. This isn’t just a meeting; it’s a chance to demand answers from Lyft and the Mamdani administration about why riders are paying more for slower service. Don’t wait for the price to go up again. Show up, speak out, and demand a fair deal for the city’s most essential commuters.
This is opinion and commentary from the RapForMayor team.
