![\"Electric](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/20240703_1245380.jpg\" "\\"NYC")
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Electric Citi Bikes at a dock in Downtown Brooklyn <\/p>\n
Photo by Ben Brachfeld<\/p>\n
City Hall is urging Lyft to implement proof-based age checks for\u00a0Citi Bike\u2019s<\/a> electric bicycles to prevent\u00a0underage riders from using them.<\/p>\n In a letter sent Tuesday to Lyft CEO David Risher, First Deputy Mayor Randy Mastro called for \u201cappropriate age verification steps,\u201d such as requiring proof of a driver\u2019s license or learner\u2019s permit, to ensure e-bike users are at least 16 \u2014 the minimum age allowed under the company\u2019s own terms of service.<\/p>\n Mastro cited safety concerns and pointed to a recent D<\/a>aily News op-ed<\/a> from Bradley Tusk, a venture capitalist and political strategist, that highlighted underage use.<\/p>\n \u201cThe dangers of underage use are compounded by these riders\u2019 frequent failure to use proper safety equipment,\u201d Mastro wrote in his Aug. 12 letter to Risher.\n<\/p>\n Mastro wrote that Citigroup, a Citi Bike partner, supports the age limit and warned that the city would take \u201cappropriate steps\u201d if Lyft does not act promptly.\n<\/p>\n A Lyft spokesperson said Tuesday afternoon that it was \u201ccurrently reviewing\u201d the letter. Citigroup did not respond to requests for comment at the time of publication.\n<\/p>\n A similar push came last month by Brooklyn Council Member Justin Brannan, who in late July wrote to Lyft<\/a> asking for a similar age verification measure to block users under 16 from creating Citi Bike accounts. Brannan warned that the current self-reported age system is \u201ca disaster waiting to happen,\u201d especially amid a surge in e-bike crashes involving minors.<\/p>\n Mastro\u2019s request comes after Lyft last month agreed to reduce Citi Bike e-bike speeds to 15 mph<\/a>.<\/a> The move followed an emergency mandate from Mastro on June 5 ordering the ride-share company to lower its current 18 mph speed limit, saying that it\u00a0had failed to do so after multiple requests.<\/p>\n Mastro\u2019s last letter explained that if the city deems there is a threat to life or property, it can alleviate the public safety emergency by \u201cremoving, replacing, reinstalling, or locking\u201d the bikes and adjacent equipment.<\/p>\n Citi Bike\u2019s fleet includes more than 20,000 bikes, with over 4,000 of them electric.\n<\/p>\n