Bring Secure Bike Parking and Charging to NYC!
NYC Department of Transportation
Last May (2024), the DOT promised to launch a network of 500 secure bike parking stations around NYC, but there haven’t been any updates since. Join us in calling for the DOT to see this game changing program through. See our full op-ed in Streetsblogs here
What
Last year, NYC DOT announced a bold and long-overdue initiative: a citywide network of 500 secure bike parking stations. These facilities were supposed to include secure, enclosed spaces for bikes, charging access for e-bikes, and be installed near subways, workplaces, homes, and key destinations across the five boroughs. It was described as a transformational step forward—something that could do for everyday cyclists what Citibike did for bikeshare.
This wasn’t just talk. The City had already seen the success of small pilot stations in Brooklyn and Manhattan. Jersey City, working with the same advocates who have fought for this infrastructure here, launched a citywide system in 2023. The Port Authority built out stations at major terminals. The model works. New Yorkers responded positively. The need is obvious.
But since that promising announcement, we’ve heard almost nothing. No details. No schedule. No clear process. This silence has sent the wrong message to communities like ours—those who have pushed the hardest, waited the longest, and stood to benefit the most.
We’re calling on DOT to follow through on its promise. Build the 500 stations. Roll them out in every borough. Prioritize the neighborhoods where riders don’t have safe storage, where transit options are limited, and where cycling could truly transform everyday life.
This isn’t just a technical project—it’s a matter of fairness, access, and respect for the communities who helped bring this idea to life. We’re inviting all New Yorkers to stand with us—amplifying Black voices that have long championed this cause—to demand transparency, a timeline, and real action from DOT.
Why
Let’s be clear: if you care about cycling in New York City, you need to care about secure bike parking. And if you care about equity, you especially need to care about secure bike parking in Black and Brown neighborhoods like ours—places where people rely on bikes every day but have nowhere safe to put them.
Bike theft isn’t just an inconvenience, it’s a barrier. A nice bike can cost more than a month’s rent, and for many of us, losing it means losing a job, missing class, or giving up riding entirely. Our neighborhoods don’t have fancy garages or indoor storage. We’re dealing with narrow walkups, steep stairs, and tight apartments. The sidewalk is often the only option—and it’s a risky one.
We’ve been raising this issue for years. Our members helped push for the pilots. We organized. We advocated. But time and again, this need has been treated like an afterthought. Meanwhile, cities like London, Paris, and even Jersey City are building real systems—thousands of secure spaces, integrated with transit, safe charging for e-bikes. And New York? Still stuck at under 100 spaces for the entire city.
This isn’t just about convenience—it’s about access. Protected bike parking makes it possible for people to ride to work, to school, to the train. It extends the reach of public transit. It prevents fires in apartments. It protects livelihoods. It makes biking viable for the people who need it most.
The truth is simple: if New York is serious about being a bike city, then secure parking isn’t optional—it’s essential.
How can we ride when our bikes end up like this?
A secure bike parking station in Jersey City
They come in all sizes, here is another one in Jersey City
They have 5,000 of these in London. Thats 30k spaces!
When
We want the DOT to give us a clear timeline for the implementation of this program. We want details. We want movement.
Petition by
Sponsored by
To:
NYC Department of Transportation
From:
[Your Name]
Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez
New York City Department of Transportation
55 Water Street
New York, NY 10041
Re: Request for Meeting and Timeline on Secure Bike Parking Program
Dear Commissioner Rodriguez,
We write to you as leaders and members of New York City’s Black cycling community—advocates, everyday riders, and grassroots organizers—deeply committed to building a more equitable and bike-friendly city.
In May of 2024, your agency announced a groundbreaking initiative: a citywide network of 500 secure bike parking stations. This was heralded as a major step forward for working-class New Yorkers, especially Black and Brown communities like ours, who have long dealt with theft, poor storage options, and unsafe conditions just to get around by bike. Yet over a year later, we have received no concrete updates, no timelines, and no public progress on this vital program.
It’s important to note that members of our community have been working on this issue for years. We’ve advocated, participated in pilots, and helped shape the vision that ultimately led to DOT’s announcement. For the Black cycling community, secure bike parking has never been an afterthought—it’s been one of our top priorities. And yet, despite our long-standing engagement, this issue continues to be deprioritized by decision-makers.
We are reaching out to request the following:
1. A formal meeting with DOT leadership to discuss the program’s status, next steps, and community engagement strategy.
2. A clear timeline for implementation, including milestones and public communication plans.
3. Greater transparency about the current stage of the process, including procurement, budget approvals, and decision-making.
For us, this is not an abstract issue. The lack of secure parking means our members are forced to choose between risking hundreds—or thousands—of dollars in property loss or giving up biking altogether. In neighborhoods like Brownsville, East Flatbush, and the South Bronx, we don’t have garages, elevators, or secure storage. Many of us live in walk-ups and leave for jobs where there’s nowhere safe to lock up. We ride less—not because we want to, but because we can’t.
This program represents a long-overdue acknowledgment of our needs. We were proud to see it announced. Now we’re asking: what’s the hold up?
We’ve seen other cities—London, Paris, Jersey City—move quickly and boldly to install secure parking, charging stations, and cycling infrastructure that serves everyone. Meanwhile, New York still has fewer than 100 secure public spaces. This is unacceptable for a city of over 8 million.
Every day this program is delayed, bikes are stolen. Fires from indoor e-bike charging continue. Opportunities for healthier, greener, and safer mobility are lost. Our community is tired of being overlooked when it comes to transportation infrastructure. We deserve better.
Please meet with us. Hear directly from our riders. Let’s work together to ensure that the Secure Bike Parking Program finally becomes a reality.
Thank you for your attention and leadership. We await your reply.
Sincerely,
Andrew Bennett,
Reg Wyns
On behalf of Good Co. Bike Club + Knight Riders, respectively.