Watch CBS News

Let The Lawsuits Begin: Legal Actions Filed Against NYC's Citi Bike Share Program

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Here come the bikes, and here come the lawsuits.

Another luxury building is preparing to sue over the placement of a bike share docking station, and it looks like New York City has finally settled on a date for the program to launch, CBS 2's Tony Aiello reported on Monday.

It's coming to this loading zone near the Milan luxury condo building at 55th Street and Second Avenue – a big docking station for Citi Bike -- the city's new bike share program.

"I think it's horrible and I think Bloomberg's so wrong for putting these bikes all over here," said Lucy Maundrell of the Upper East Side.

Maundrell said she is happy her condo board is going ahead with a lawsuit to block Citi Bike, joining residents of 99 Bank St., in the West Village who've also sued.

The New York Post reported a half-dozen more legal actions are in the works.

"I don't like it, and a lot of other people don't like it," one person said.

There have been protests, both pro and con.

Bike share programs have launched in Denver and other cities with much less fuss. Of course, Denver didn't put any of its docking stations on the street -- only on sidewalks and in parking lots.

But in New York City, dozens of loading zones and scores of parking spots are being eliminated to make way for bike share.

"These things are very much in the way of a lot of my stops!" one delivery man said recently.

Soon, 6,000 of the bright blue City Bikes will fill more than 300 docking stations.

Even the bungee for keeping your bag in place is integrated into the bike. CBS 2's Aiello tested one last week and reported that the bike is well-designed and easy to ride.

Polls show huge support for the general concept of a bike share program.

"I'm really just curious to see how it goes, how it works," said Coach Mason of Brooklyn Heights.

"We're trying to have less traffic on the street for all of us, so what could be better than riding a bike?" added Joan Starr of Chelsea.

After delays and difficulties, the bike share program is reportedly rolling towards a Memorial Day launch, CBS 2's Aiello reported.

You May Also Be Interested In These Stories

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.