Now they’re blaming Sandy.
The city announced today that its long-delayed bike share program — which was initially supposed to open over the summer — is being pushed back yet again, this time because of storm-damage to equipment.
The Department of Transportation said that 5,500 bikes will be implemented in 293 stations will be launched in May.
Eventually, the system will include 10,000 bikes, although officials remain mum about when that will be.
The privately-funded public program — which will not use any tax paper dollars — had been scheduled to begin in March after software problems delayed its summer kick-off.
Dan Brinzac
Bikes that will eventually be part of the city's new program are seen during the press conference where Mayor Bloomberg announced it.
The latest set-back came after Hurricane Sandy caused flooding at the bike share’s facility at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, where two-thirds of the equipment was stored.
Although the bikes mostly made it through unscathed, the flooding damaged some electrical components, which must be replaced.
“DOT has worked around the clock to restore vital transportation links following the storm and that includes putting Citi Bike on the road to recovery,” said DOT Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan.
“Despite the damage, New York will have the nation’s largest bike share system up and running this spring.”
Transportation Alternatives — a mass transit advocacy group that strongly supports the program — said it’s better late that never.
“Every day, a new cost is added to the toll of [Sandy’s] destruction, and the damage to the bike share equipment is merely the latest,” it said in a statement.
“We’re thankful the storm spared so much of the equipment and grateful to see the program will still launch in the spring.”
jennifer.fermino@nypost.com
City blames Hurricane Sandy for latest bike share program delay
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City blames Hurricane Sandy for latest bike share program delay
