A note to our followers

At The Narrows on Monday afternoon

We apologize for the recent dearth of activity. But we have a good excuse along with a confession. The excuse: We’re in the midst of a complicated household move. The confession: Since mid-February, we’ve been producing this blog from California. It kinda worked, as long as data-driven reporting could support the blog.

But NotSpots are no longer the problem they were in winter and spring. It appears that the system operators, beginning in about mid-June, finally started paying attention to stations that  chronically emptied. We’ll expand more on this topic when we’re not hunched over a bed substituting as a desk at an Airbnb in Jersey City.

So please bear with us. We’ll be producing much, much more starting in mid-August.

Must be Monday! At 9:30, 21% of Citibike stations empty/full.

White circles with borders are empty. Blue circles with borders are full

Citi Bike to test nighttime valet service at Tompkins Square station

An excerpt

The weeknight valet service, which will launch at a dock on Avenue A and 7th Street on Monday, will be manned with at least two employees who will remove bikes once the dock fills up so that a couple of spaces will be always be available from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.

bikesharenyc.blogspot.com #bikenyc

Comment

Interesting choice of stations for this experiment. We’ve not recorded a single instance of 7th St & Avenue A filling up during the second quarter.

And generally speaking, our observation is that filled stations are not a problem in the neighborhood. But empty stations put Tompkins Square near the top of our 10 worst neighborhoods list week after week.

Daily News news says REQX deal could push annual member fee to $140+

An excerpt

The city has discussed raising the annual membership fee for the popular bikeshare system from $95 to $140 or even $155, according to a source with knowledge of the discussions.

Media frenzy over Capital New York’s scoop on possible takeover of Citi Bike operator

At 7 am, Capital New York posted

An excerpt

About three weeks ago, Mayor Bill de Blasio's administration, a company called REQX Ventures and Alta Bicycle Share, the system's troubled operator, agreed on the broad outlines of an agreement, according to two knowledgeable sources.

According to the terms of that still-tentative agreement, REQX Ventures, a company run by individuals affiliated with Equinox and Related Companies (the real estate company that owns Equinox) would buy at least 51-percent of the Portland-based company.

At 10 am, New York Business Journal posted

An excerpt

There appears to be a tentative agreement for Alta Bicycle Share, Citi Bike’s Portland, Oregon-based operator, to sell a majority stake of itself, according to a report by Capital New York.

Then around noon, bam, bam, bam

An excerpt from Curbed NY

As expected, a deal with the investment firm REQX Ventures, created by Equinox Gym and its parent Related Companies, will likely keepCiti Bike afloat. Capital New York reports that the deal is close to being finalized, but city officials have been "moving slowly to seal it."

An excerpt from the gothamist

Faced with busted docks, faulty software, and a dearth of profit from 24-hour and 7-day users, Citi Bike, a success in terms of popularity, has been a failure where it counts. Its financial namesake won't grope between the couch cushions to support it, and De Blasio has declined to allot municipal funds for it either. So what happens to public projects that everyone wants and needs but refuses to fund? Private real estate to the rescue!

An excerpt from The Real Deal

The de Blasio administration has come to a tentative agreement to boost the troubled Citi Bike program.

The administration reportedly approved a deal between REQX Ventures and Alta Bicycle Share. Talks between the three parties started in May.

Then at 3:30…

An excerpt from Mashable

Citi Bike, the New York bike-sharing service, has been struggling with cash flow since its inception. But it might soon be able to ride out its money troubles thanks to an investment company affiliated with the gym Equinox.

Yo, Citi Bike last milers: Yelp has reviews of busiest subway stops

Thanks to the Rudin Center for this one: “Did you know people post Yelp reviews of subway stations? Here's a map of NYC's busiest subway stations, created by Rudin Center summer intern Andrew Poeppel.”