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  • READY TO RIDE: A press conference announcing the new Citi Bike program draws a crowd outside New York City Hall on May 27
  • BUSINESS CASUAL: A new Citi Bike rider comments at a press conference announcing the program
  • SEEING GREEN: New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg speaks at a press conference unveiling the new Citi Bike
  • BLUE CRUSH: Brightly colored Citi Bikes are quickly taking over the streets of New York City
  • RACK 'EM UP: There are more than 300 Citi Bike stations around the city
  • SMOOTH RIDE: The $825 bike features a front basket with strap, safety lights and three gears
  • CITI BIKE ARRIVES!: Short-term rentals can be accessed with a key code at station kiosks
  • KEY TO THE CITY: Annual members receive a card to unlock bicycles at any of the hundreds of Citi Bike stations around the city
  • QUICKER COMMUTE: A new Citi Bike member gets ready for a two-wheeled spin around town
  • BEHIND THE WHEEL: Transportation Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan (left) prepares to take a spin with founding members of Citi Bike
  • THERE'S AN APP FOR THAT: Station locations, bike availability and navigation are available through the Citi Bike mobile application for Apple and Android devices

By Corrie Dosh, photos by Eric Wong

New York City on May 27 joined the ranks of progressive metropolises such as Paris, Amsterdam, London and Barcelona—not to mention Hangzhou, China—in offering residents a healthier mass transit option. Roughly 6,000 bright blue bicycles were unveiled at stations dotting the Big Apple in a new membership-driven bikeshare system.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced the new program dubbed "Citi Bike" (thanks to $41 million in corporate backing from Citi Bank) to a chorus of cheers and bicycle rings at a press conference outside of City Hall.

The program is aimed to offer short station-to-station rentals as an alternative to subway and bus service. However, the crowded, traffic-heavy alleys of New York have some residents questioning the safety of unleashing thousands of bikes onto city streets.

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