Surprise! Dorothy Rabinowitz was wrong

In a New York Magazine interview the woman who thought Citibike would begrime the city made a prediction

When the novelty wears off, she expects New Yorkers will sour on the blue bikes. “I have a strong feeling that about a year from now many politicians are going to be spending a lot of time distancing themselves from the bike-share program," she said. "Wait until January.”

That was June of 2013. Since then, a mayoral candidate has done an interview during a Citi Bike ride, the new Mayor has said he wants to expand the system, and a Citibank spokesman has called it a huge success. No signs of anyone distancing themselves from it.

Nor have New Yorkers soured on it. Citi Bikes are nearly 30% of bicycle traffic in the bike share zone, carrying more passengers per bike than any other system, and it has exceeded expectations.

Still, she can take some consolation in knowing that she is not alone. Other people were wrong too. 

Comments

[Michael H.]

The critics were right about Capital Bikeshare though. I don't think there have been more than 10 total trips on the entire system since it started 4 years ago.

[Catherine Fitzpatrick]

I'd like to hear more about how you're arriving at your figures, how the research is done and counting of cyclists made. I'd like to hear answers to some of my questions, like whether all you're doing is taking away public transport riders and leaving buses still to ride partly empty which doesn't lower carbon exhaust.

http://3dblogger.typepad.com/wired_state/2014/04/the-totalitarian-bikes-revisited.html