Citi Bikes Ready To Hit The Road Monday

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) - New York City's controversial bike share program is set to roll on Monday for annual members.

Citi Bike's 6,000 specially designed bikes have been docked at roughly 330 stations in Manhattan and Brooklyn ahead of their Memorial Day debut.

Annual members will have one week of exclusive access before daily and weekly memberships start on June 2.

But the program is not without its critics. Some residents have filed suit against the bike share, while others have spoken out against the loss of parking spots.

LINK: Citi Bike Official Website

Some city drivers have complained that they've been improperly ticketed when the docking stations were put in place without warning. And some street vendors said they fear the program will cut into their territory.

But city Department of Transportation officials have touted the bike share program as a way to go green and provide an opportunity to explore the city on two wheels.

Thousands of people have signed up as Citi Bike founding members, paying the $95 annual fee for unlimited rides of 45 minutes.

Daily memberships will be available for $9.95 a day or $25 a week, which entitles riders to an unlimited number of 30-minute trips.

According to the DOT, the bike share program will create 170 jobs and generate $36 million in yearly local economic activity.

More than 9,000 people have signed up as annual members, according to the DOT.

Are you an annual Citi Bike member and want to be interviewed? Give the CBS 2 News Desk a call at 212-975-5867.

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