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| New York Citi Bike programme sparks harsh criticisms from local media | New York Citi Bike programme sparks harsh criticisms from local media |
| (4 months later) | |
| In the week since the launch of the New York bike-share scheme it has, according to local media, been responsible for one journalist's back brace, made a number of people late for work and served as an example of "what happens when you get a government run by an autocratic leader". | In the week since the launch of the New York bike-share scheme it has, according to local media, been responsible for one journalist's back brace, made a number of people late for work and served as an example of "what happens when you get a government run by an autocratic leader". |
| The coverage of the bike-rental scheme has been largely negative despite an encouraging opening which saw over 65,000 rides taken in the first seven days, with users notching over 200,000 miles. | The coverage of the bike-rental scheme has been largely negative despite an encouraging opening which saw over 65,000 rides taken in the first seven days, with users notching over 200,000 miles. |
| The New York Post has led the charge against Citi Bikes. According to the tabloid they are dangerous, incovenient for city workers and have been hit by glitches – but the Wall Street Journal raised the bar over the weekend when editorial board member Dorothy Rabinowitz launched a tirade against the scheme in a video interview on the newspaper's website. | The New York Post has led the charge against Citi Bikes. According to the tabloid they are dangerous, incovenient for city workers and have been hit by glitches – but the Wall Street Journal raised the bar over the weekend when editorial board member Dorothy Rabinowitz launched a tirade against the scheme in a video interview on the newspaper's website. |
| "Do not ask me to enter the mind of the totalitarians running this government of the city," Rabinowitz said when asked why she thought the scheme had been introduced. | "Do not ask me to enter the mind of the totalitarians running this government of the city," Rabinowitz said when asked why she thought the scheme had been introduced. |
| "Look, I represent the majority of citizens. The majority of citizens of this city are appalled by what has happened." | "Look, I represent the majority of citizens. The majority of citizens of this city are appalled by what has happened." |
| For Rabinowitz the introduction of the bicycles are the first step in New York descending into a dystopian nightmare. | For Rabinowitz the introduction of the bicycles are the first step in New York descending into a dystopian nightmare. |
| "Envision what happens when you get a government run by an autocratic mayor or other leader and a government before which you are helpless. We now look at a city whose best neighbourhoods are absolutely – begrimed is the word – by these blazing blue Citi Bank bikes. All of the finest most picturesque parts of the city, it is shocking to walk around the city." | "Envision what happens when you get a government run by an autocratic mayor or other leader and a government before which you are helpless. We now look at a city whose best neighbourhoods are absolutely – begrimed is the word – by these blazing blue Citi Bank bikes. All of the finest most picturesque parts of the city, it is shocking to walk around the city." |
| Media in New York have been largely unimpressed with the bikes – a Guardian colleague included – with the New York Post particularly vociferous in its criticism. | Media in New York have been largely unimpressed with the bikes – a Guardian colleague included – with the New York Post particularly vociferous in its criticism. |
| "Sanitation workers and drivers have been inconvenienced," the paper reported on Friday, citing a photo of workers tossing trash bags over a row of bikes. | "Sanitation workers and drivers have been inconvenienced," the paper reported on Friday, citing a photo of workers tossing trash bags over a row of bikes. |
| There was worse to come. The same day the Post ran a story that a man had "ditched his rusted red Schwinn" at a docking station in the East Village. "He left the bike and just left," a local resident said. | There was worse to come. The same day the Post ran a story that a man had "ditched his rusted red Schwinn" at a docking station in the East Village. "He left the bike and just left," a local resident said. |
| On Monday the Post found that there had been "an endless cycle of problems" for the scheme. The story quoted a Brooklyn resident who had got a flat tyre on one of the bikes. | On Monday the Post found that there had been "an endless cycle of problems" for the scheme. The story quoted a Brooklyn resident who had got a flat tyre on one of the bikes. |
| The New York Daily News has been in on the act too. It sent a self-described "bike snob" reporter to test one of the bikes. The reporter did not like the citi bike – it was heavy and left her calling for a "back brace with a side of codeine", although she let her bike snob credentials slip a little when she said she rides an SE Draft – which even this non-bike snob knows is essentially the cheapest bike on the market. | The New York Daily News has been in on the act too. It sent a self-described "bike snob" reporter to test one of the bikes. The reporter did not like the citi bike – it was heavy and left her calling for a "back brace with a side of codeine", although she let her bike snob credentials slip a little when she said she rides an SE Draft – which even this non-bike snob knows is essentially the cheapest bike on the market. |
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