In May 2013, New York residents witnessed a new mode of transportation on the streets of New York City, which has made traveling more convenient and much cheaper. With the introduction of Citi bikes, residents and visitors can enjoy a nice bicycle ride to their destination and avoid traffic jam and expensive parking rates that is evident in much of New York.
However, as with any other mode of transportation, riding a bicycle also has its drawbacks. One of the major concerns for most riders is what happens and who will be responsible if their Citi bike is stolen.
Responsibility Lies With the Rider
When you check out a Citi bike, you take full responsibility until the moment you return it at the next station. In other words, you are responsible to return your bike on time, in one piece and in the same condition you found it in.
In the event that your bike is involved in an accident, is stolen or you fail to return it on time, you will be responsible for the applicable fines. The worst case scenario is losing the bike. If your bike is stolen or you simply cannot find it and fail to return it all together, you will have to bear full responsibility for the loss. The fine for failure to return a Citi bike is a $1,000 charge on the credit card you used to check out the bike.
If you lose your bike or it is stolen, you should immediately notify Citi Bike by calling 1-855-BIKE-311 within 24 hours of the loss or theft.
Call Us
If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a bicycle accident that was caused by the negligent or reckless actions of another party or you would like to schedule a complimentary consultation with a an experienced New York City bicycle lawyers, please call Gersowitz, Libo & Korek, P.C. at 212-584-2494.