Transportation Alternatives has launched a series of surveys asking Citi Bike riders what they think of the bike-share program. The aim is to better inform TA's activism and introduce the advocacy group to bike-share users who may not already be familiar with ways they can help improve cycling in New York.
"We don't want this to be just for our members," TA's Caroline Samponaro said. "We want to be advocates for Citi Bike riders at large."
The first survey asks users to rank the problems they most commonly face when using bike-share, where they'd like to see the service expand next, what type of bike facilities they feel are safest, and how the NYPD should focus its traffic enforcement efforts.
"We have four themes we're hitting in terms of advocacy," Samponaro said. "Street safety, how well does it work, enforcement, and expansion." TA plans to show the survey results to elected officials, NYC Bicycle Share, DOT, NYPD, and community boards to give Citi Bike users a voice in decisions about enforcement and system expansion.
In addition to the online survey, TA staffers and volunteers on the street will pass out copies of the survey to bike-share riders they encounter. Survey participants are entered into a raffle to win a bike helmet.
A new poll will be posted next month. "If you do take the survey this month," Samponaro said, "Don't think you've already taken it when you see it next month."
