Edited by: TJVNews.com
Seems like the Citi Bikes that one sees all over the island of Manhattan, now has some competition. As the only game in town as it pertains to getting around New York City on a bicycle, Citi Bikes have the backing of the city government. According to a report in the New York Post, next week a privately run competitor is ready to present an all-electric fleet of bikes for enthusiasts to check out.
JOCO, a transportation start-up company will be the first shared operator in New York City to launch a network of e-bike stations on private property for public use, according to a report on Tech Crunch. JOCO’s founders (two guys named Jonathan Cohen) have said that the bikes will be available for rent next week at 30 locations across Manhattan, according to the NYP report.
The Post reported that at $1 to ride plus $.25-cents a minute, JOCO’s e-bikes will cost less per-ride than a single trip on a Citi Bike, with bikes docked on at such places as residential buildings, hotels and offices. For $49 a month, riders can unlock unlimited 45-minute trips.
Tech Crunch reported that the service, powered by shared mobility platform Vulog, will expand from 30 to 100 stations and 1,000 bikes by June. Last week, the city announced the winning companies of the e-scooter pilot in the Bronx. But while Bird, Lime and Veo are restricted to operating in a section of the Bronx, far from any Citi Bike territory, JOCO is under no such constraints.
The Post reported that the bikes also recharge at their docking stations — unlike Citi Bike’s e-bikes, which require worker to replace and recharge batteries each night. Also unlike Citi Bike, JOCO riders can reserve bikes in advance. Currently, there are about 4,500 Citi Bikes around the city.
Tech Crunch reported that the company’s bikes will initially be stationed at parking garages around the city, including at Icon Parking garages, the city’s largest parking operators, but the company says it hopes to expand to residential and commercial buildings in the near future. The company essentially pays landlords to provide this amenity, while absolving them from having to operate or maintain the e-bikes.
Despite the fact that the city’s department of transportation has a contract with Citi Bike, JOCO is the latest “micro-mobility” company that has attempted a launch, according to the New York Post report. The city’s contract with Citi Bike grants exclusive rights to operate within its service area..
“We don’t necessarily see ourselves as a competitor. The pie is increasing massively. There’s room for more than one player,” Chief Growth Officer Jonathan Cohen told the Post of the demand for bike-share.
He noted that Citi Bike’s fleet is not entirely electric, and said JOCO would “cap our membership” to ensure bike availability, as was reported in the Post.
The post reported that DOT spokesman Brian Zumhagen said in a statement: “DOT is reaching out to JOCO to underscore that all bike-sharing systems within New York City require prior written authorization of the Department.”