And the city has launched another effort enacted by several other U.S. cities, a bike-share program. But if you’re hoping to peddle away the pounds, there’s one catch: the city says you have to weigh less than 260 pounds to sign up.
As the New York Post reports, the city says it placed the weight limits based on a recommendation from the bicycle manufacturer. And Department of Transportation policy director Jon Orcutt tells the Post that the city won’t really enforce the rule anyway.
“I think people will be self-selecting, practical and safe,” he said.
Once the program is fully implemented, it will offer more than 10,000 bikes at 600 different locations throughout the city, the largest in America.
The bike share program works by allowing individuals to pickup a bike from a set location and then either return it to the same spot or drop it off at any one of the company’s stations located in the same city.
Still, the restriction is sure to draw more negative attention to the city’s health program efforts. Before anyone can take part in the program, which costs $98 per month, or $25 per week, they must sign a contract stating that they meet the weight requirement.
But isn’t getting some of the city’s heaviest residents into a healthy exercise program just what the city is going for? After all, a moderate to fast paced cycling routine can burns hundreds of calories and provides many with a safer alternative to running or other more demanding physical activities.
At the very least, the Post notes that New York City is not alone in setting the weight limits. Bicycle manufacturer Alta Bicycle Share has launched similar programs in other cities including Portland, Boston and Washington, DC with the same requirement. The company says it plans to start similar programs in other U.S. cities including Columbus, San Francisco and Chicago, home of the deep dish pizza.
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