Brooklyn Councilman Calls for Age Verification on Lyft’s Citi Bikes
A Brooklyn councilman is urging Lyft to implement an age verification system aimed at blocking anyone under 16 from creating a Citi Bike account or renting a bike.
In a letter dated July 24 to Lyft’s CEO David Risher, Councilman Justin Brannan stated, “Using proper tools could prevent riders younger than 16 from accessing one of the 20,000 e-bikes in the fleet.” He emphasized the necessity to safeguard younger riders on the streets.
Brannan said that his decision to contact Lyft was motivated by feedback from parents expressing concerns about minors riding e-bikes. "I receive numerous reports from parents who feel alarmed about their children. This situation poses a significant risk that could easily be avoided," he added in the communication.
The councilman expressed his intention to advance legislation to mandate such measures should Lyft not take action “before a 14-year-old creates a Citi Bike account and suffers a serious injury or fatality while riding an e-bike.”
Currently, the rental policies for Citi Bikes stipulate that users must be at least 16 years old. However, there is no established system to verify the age of riders. Brannan pointed out that anyone with a mobile device, email, and payment information can quickly establish an account.
“Riders simply self-declare their age by entering their date of birth. There’s no barrier preventing a 14-year-old, or even younger, from renting a bike capable of reaching speeds of 15 miles per hour with just a few taps,” he remarked.
Brannan also noted that the absence of age verification contrasts sharply with Lyft’s thorough vetting measures for its rideshare services and bike-sharing programs in other locations.
“This issue can be addressed,” he affirmed. “To ensure safety within its car services, Lyft possesses tools that can authenticate the ages of countless drivers in their rideshare operations.”
In contrast, in cities like Mexico City, Lyft mandates that users scan an ID to confirm their age when creating a new account. Similarly, Lime, which operates a scooter network in Queens and the Bronx, requires verification for users aged 18 and over and initiates them in a "beginner mode" with restrictions on speed and nighttime usage.
Brannan cited alarming statistics regarding e-bike incidents, noting that 76% of cycling fatalities in New York City in 2023 involved e-bikes, totaling 23 deaths. The e-bike fatality rate has seen a fivefold increase from 2019 to 2023.
He recalled a recent incident where a minor on a Citi Bike collided with another rider, resulting in hospitalization. Due to the age of the rider, no police report was filed. Additionally, a 16-year-old filed a lawsuit against Citi Bike after sustaining injuries from a crash in Brooklyn.
“I believe Lyft needs to act swiftly to address this critical safety gap. It’s become commonplace for teens in New York City to ride e-bikes at high speeds without helmets, often lacking the knowledge of safe riding practices,” Brannan conveyed to the Lyft CEO.
He added a personal reflection, saying, “We’ve all been teenagers. While experiences vary, poor judgment is frequent at that age. Unlike many things that change, risky behavior among teens persists.”
Brannan also urged Lyft to provide crash and safety data regarding traditional bicycles and e-bikes, segmented by age, gender, and other demographic factors.
He asserted that Lyft could significantly contribute to preventing accidents with a simple update to its Citi Bike system utilizing existing resources.
A spokesperson for Lyft acknowledged receipt of Brannan’s letter and stated it is under review. A representative from Citi had no comment but mentioned ongoing discussions with Lyft about e-bike safety issues, most recently held last month.
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