Park Slope hops on the Citi Bike program

Citi Bike has finally arrived in Park Slope.

On Thursday, August 25, New York City’s bike share system finally expanded to Community Board 6, which includes Park Slope along with Boerum Hill, Carroll Gardens, Cobble Hill, Gowanus and Red Hook.

An official ribbon cutting ceremony was held in the CB 6 area. New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) Commissioner Polly Trottenberg, Councilmember Brad Lander, Citi Bike General Manager Jules Flynn and community leaders were in attendance for the celebration

“We’re thrilled to have Citi Bike in our neighborhoods,” said Lander, “For trips up to Prospect Park or down to the Red Hook pool, for a long walk to the subway, to work in the growing businesses in Gowanus or Downtown Brooklyn, to shop or eat at one of the great restaurants on Smith Street or Fifth Avenue — Citi Bikes are a great new way to travel. Thank you to Commissioner Trottenberg, and the teams at DOT and Motivate. It’s great to see the blue bikes rolling, safely, through our community.”

“This is an exciting time for Boerum Hill, Carroll Gardens, Cobble Hill, Park Slope, Gowanus and Red Hook as they receive a long-awaited transportation upgrade with Citi Bike’s arrival,” said Trottenberg, who said that, with the addition, “Brownstone Brooklyn becomes bluer for the better.”

Mayor Bill de Blasio also applauded the addition to the area. “The arrival of Citi Bike is a transit boon for CB 6, Brownstone Brooklyn and surrounding neighborhoods,” he said in a statement.  “Citi Bike continues to grow and connect New Yorkers to more neighborhoods, retail areas and transit hubs than ever before.”

According to the DOT, Citi Bike riders have already taken over 8.1 million trips in 2016, on pace to best 2015’s record of 10 million trips.

“Cycling is a healthy and environmentally friendly option for many New York commuters and visitors to our city,” added Congressmember. Nydia Velázquez. “I’m happy to see this valuable service expanded into Park Slope and look forward to its continued growth in other areas such as Red Hook, which is anticipated soon.”