With dreams of changing the landscape of transportation in major American cities, Lyft unleashed their fleets of pedal-assist electric bikes over the course of the last year. But in April of 2019, Lyft has pulled its fleet out of three major cities over mechanical concerns.
Cities Affected
- San Francisco – Ford GoBike
- Washington, D.C. – Capital Bikeshare
- New York City – Citi Bike
Brake Malfunctions lead to Lyft Pulling E-Bike Fleet
The issue, officially announced by New York City’s Citi Bike official blog, involves the brakes of the e-bike. According to a number of reports, some riders were thrown from the bike over the handlebars while riding. Users complained of stronger than normal braking force on the front wheel. According to the New York Times, this has lead to dozens of injuries in New York alone.
This has been a major setback for Lyft, especially in New York City. After Lyft purchased the e-bike company Motivate, they had pledged to invest at least $100 million in Citi Bike in an effort to capture the market there. Now, 15% of Lyft’s entire fleet is sidelined. In some cities, Lyft has begun swapping out e-bikes with standard bikes.
The Braking Issue
According to reports, Lyft has reached out brake manufacturer Shimano for guidance on what has caused the problem. Lyft has allegedly also engaged a third-party engineering firm to try and diagnose the issue and get the e-bikes back on the road. The bikes actually pre-date Lyft’s entry into the e-bike market, as they were developed by e-bike company Motivate before being acquired by Lyft.
The injuries complicate Lyft’s drive to corner the e-bike market, and will likely open them up to litigation regarding the injuries sustained from the accidents. At least one New York rider was seriously injured in a Lyft e-bike accident. The rider told AM New York that he suffered a broken hip thanks to the brake malfunction.
Without a doubt, this isn’t the last we’ll hear about it.
