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Sure, Citi Bike can help New Yorkers get around town faster, but did you know that it was also good for the economy?

Earlier this week, DOT Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan announced economic projections for the program. The first year of New York City’s new bike share system will generate $36 million in economic activity and create 170 new jobs, according to a New York City Economic Development Corporation analysis.

From bike mechanics, who keep the fleet in tip-top shape to station technicians to the friendly staff at our call center working to make sure every Citi Bike customers’ questions are answered anytime day or night, these new employees will receive competitive hourly wages and good benefits, while working to make travel around New York City easier and more fun.

And those hires are just the beginning. When the system expands from 6,000 bikes at 330 stations to 10,000 bikes at 600 stations, there will be a whole lot more opportunities and many millions more in economic activity generated.

Even better, the program is funded without any taxpayer subsidy, relying entirely on sponsorship from Citi Bank and MasterCard, as well as financing from the Goldman Sachs Urban Investment Group.

In addition to job creation, Citi Bike’s launch shows promise in enhancing the local economies of the neighborhoods it serves. DOT’s Measuring the Street report, issued last fall, documented the significant impact transit improvements and better street designs can have on real estate values, local economies and small businesses throughout the city.

Over forty people filled the back room of Bicycle Habitat in SoHo for a recent Citi Bike Street Skills class.

If you’re new to city cycling, getting back in the saddle after a few years away, or interested in learning tips on safely navigating urban traffic, Citi Bike’s street skills class is for you.

In a fun interactive classroom environment, Citi Bike Street Skills focuses on city cycling scenarios like traffic, jaywalkers, puddles and intersections and how to handle them so that you enjoy pleasant, stress-free rides.

Even better, every participant will learn how to use the Citi Bike system, get an introduction to the bike’s features, and receive a free 24-hour pass to Citi Bike worth $9.95!

The classes are being offered in partnership with Bike New York and taught by a certified cycling instructor. The free, hour-long class will give you the confidence and know-how to take full advantage of Citi Bike from the second the system opens. Classes alternate between Manhattan one week and then Brooklyn the next.  Manhattan classes are held at Bicycle Habitat in SoHo, and Brooklyn sessions are at Red Lantern in Fort Greene. 

“There’s so much that people can do to make themselves feel confident and more comfortable on the road. You can adjust a few behaviors and have so much more fun,” said Emilia Crotty, the education and outreach manager at NYC Bike Share.

You can find a schedule of classes, as well as registration information and more details here. Additional dates are being added for June. RSVP is appreciated but not required.