Overview

• On Aug. 15, Lyft Urban Solutions president Michael Brous confirmed in writing that the company will add an age verification step after First Deputy Mayor Randy Mastro’s written request.
• Lyft says integrating age checks will require vendor selection, system engineering and privacy safeguards, with the implementation expected to take about three months.
• The verification move follows a June emergency mandate capping Citi Bike e-bike speeds at 15 mph after NYPD data showed a 30.1% rise in e-bike collisions year-to-date.
• In an Aug. 12 letter, Mastro recommended using driver’s licenses or learner’s permits to verify that riders meet the program’s 16-year-old minimum and cited underage riders’ safety risks.
• Citi Bike General Manager Patrick Knoth said the company will design the verification option to minimize user friction while preventing underage access.