Upway Urges NYC DOT To Fast-Track Secure Bike Parking
Written by: Maxime Renson | July 25, 2025 | Time to read 5 min
Secure bike parking is not a luxury; it’s a necessity for New York City cyclists. And Upway is urging NYC DOT to act.
More about the Author: Maxime Renson, General Manager at Upway
Graduated in engineering and business, I spent 6+ years at Uber across six countries before joining Upway’s founding team in 2022 to launch the U.S. business. Outside work, I bike, run, play golf and padel, and swim with my son.
Upway stands behind New York City’s plans to implement its secure bike parking program, urging the Department of Transportation to pick up the pace. The initiative will be a major boost to the city’s micromobility industry and the tens of thousands of New Yorkers who rely on bikes, e-Bikes, and scooters for commuting, delivery work, and general mobility. But progress on this essential infrastructure has stalled, we’re voicing the need for urgent action to roll out this important program.
NYC’s Secure Bike Parking Initiative
Back in May of last year, the New York City Department of Transportation announced plans to launch a network of 500 secure bike parking hubs in the city by the end of the year. NYC DOT began an open call for companies to operate the bike storage network which would support record bike ridership in the city by providing new, safer options for residents without in-home bike storage space.
The RFP (Request for Proposal) period is now closed, but the DOT has not yet made an announcement of an operator or demonstrated any progress on the project, leading to calls from Upway and other advocacy groups for urgent action to expedite its implementation.
The RFP (Request for Proposal) period is now closed, but the DOT has not yet made an announcement of an operator or demonstrated any progress on the project, leading to calls from Upway and other advocacy groups for urgent action to expedite its implementation.
Why secure bike parking is necessary
After concerns about traffic safety, the lack of secure, weather-protected parking is the biggest reason why New Yorkers don’t ride a bike in the city. For riders without private storage, this absence of secure bike parking can make cycling functionally impossible. And with bike thefts continuing to rise, now affecting an estimated one in five riders annually, this issue is increasingly a financial risk for workers and a commercial barrier for businesses seeking to expand the micromobility market.
Secure bike parking is safer
Critically, the Secure Bike Parking Program can also play a role in curbing the micromobility battery fires that have killed dozens of New Yorkers and cost the City an estimated $500 million in damage and loss over the past several years. By providing secure parking infrastructure that’s equipped with safe charging for electric bikes and scooters, the program would create a safer alternative to the widespread, ad-hoc charging that often occurs in overcrowded apartments and other informal settings.
With growing numbers of New Yorkers relying on electric micromobility, particularly as an alternative to car travel in the wake of congestion pricing, the City must invest in public infrastructure that supports access to these safe and sustainable modes of transportation.
London & Paris demonstrate success
Despite the rapid growth in cycling and micromobility use, including a 31% increase in daily bike trips since 2019— New York remains far behind peer cities when it comes to secure parking. Meanwhile, cities like Paris and London have shown what’s possible when secure bike parking is made a priority:
- London now hosts nearly 5,000 secure bike parking “hangars” in residential neighborhoods in addition to dozens of bike parking hubs in key commercial corridors. The availability of secure parking has been a major factor in supporting a 25% increase in bike commuting over the past decade.
- Paris is adding 130,000 new spaces by 2026, including major hubs at transit stations, helping drive a 19% increase in cycling and a significant drop in car use.
Upway’s recommendations
New York should lead on this front, and DOT’s Secure Bike Parking Program, as outlined in its 2024 RFP, provides a critical roadmap to do that. Secure bike parking is shovel-ready, job-creating, and locally supported. Investing now will create a visible, immediate impact on street safety, business activity, and public health.
Micromobility is now a core pillar of New York City’s transportation network. Our businesses are ready to scale, to invest, and to help the City meet its climate and equity goals—but we need the infrastructure to match the moment.
- Award the contract (EPIN 84124P0005) immediately to a qualified operator capable of rapidly deploying a network of secure bike parking facilities.
- Prioritize installation in high-demand areas such as transit hubs, commercial districts, and residential neighborhoods underserved by secure storage.
- Ensure design and operational excellence, leveraging the success of existing Oonee installations and global best practices.
We urge the NYC DOT to act and support micromobility users all across the city. Upway hopes that not another summer passes without visible progress on this long-overdue initiative and looks forward to the growing network of safe, secure bike parking in New York City.
Key Takeaways
- Urgent Action Needed: NYC DOT’s secure bike parking plan is stalled, and Upway is calling for immediate implementation to support riders and reduce theft.
- Safety & Infrastructure Go Hand-in-Hand: Secure parking can reduce battery fire risks and expand safe access to e-bikes and scooters.
- Global Models Show the Way: Cities like London and Paris prove that secure bike parking boosts cycling rates and reduces car dependency.
