CITI BIKE UNVEILED AT CITI FIELD AHEAD OF HOME OPENER: 'This new location will be a game changer for Mets fans'

NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- One week before the New York Mets' March 28 home opener at Citi Field, a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held Thursday to unveil the arrival of Citi Bike at the ball park.

There are now two Citi Bike stations, located near the rotunda and near the 34th Street bike lanes, totaling 66 docks.

The Citi Bikes currently docked at Citi Field, and on display at Thursday's ribbon-cutting ceremony have images of Mr. and Mrs. Met and Mets players on them, but as cyclists begin to return bikes there from elsewhere in the city, the bikes will be integrated into the entire Citi Bike system.

"We've got some special Citi Bikes that are emboldened with the Mets logo and some cool graphics for this opening week as we're getting close to it," LJ Nassivera, VP of transportation strategies for the Mets, told 1010 WINS/WCBS 880 Wednesday night. "However at the end of the day, we are just part of the Citi Bike network so anyone riding a Citi Bike no matter where you came from, no matter what the bike looks like can take a bike from dock or put one there. We are certainly excited to be part of the network."

Nassivera added that capacity will not be an issue during home games.

"On game days, we are certainly going to monitor it," he said. "Lyft, who operates the system for the DOT will be on hand to 'valet it,' as they call it, so to be on hand to make sure if anybody wants to come and there isn't a dock, they will still be able to get rid of it, if you will."

At the ribbon-cutting ceremony, the Mets' president of business operations, M. Scott Havens, said, "When Steve and Alex Cohen bought the New York Mets in 2020 there was a commitment to all of our passionate fans that we gave the best possible experience at the ballpark, and while many of the initial improvements, renovations have been inside Citi Field, the installation of Citi Bike is equally important."

Also at the event -- which was attended by executives from the Mets, Citi and Lyft -- officials spoke about the desire to "connect" Citi Field with the surrounding neighborhoods, allowing families to travel to the ball park safely using bicycle lanes.

"From so many different Queens neighborhoods, we can now hop on a Citi Bike and leave our cars at home, bring our families and get here safely -- I am beyond excited," said community leader Jim Burke, who also spoke at Thursday's ribbon cutting ceremony.

NYC Department of Transportation commissioner Ydanis Rodríguez said the addition of Citi Bike at Citi Field meshed with the city's commitment to increasing bicycle usage.

"New York City is the best place to be," he said. "New York City is leading the nation with the largest bicycle infrastructure ... and I can tell you, compare the numbers, New York City is building more bike lanes than all of the largest cities in this nation together."

NYC councilor Francisco Moya, who represents parts of Queens, said at the ceremony, "I'm thrilled to be part of the expansion of Citi Bike. This new Citi Bike location will be a game a changer for all the Mets fans to make their way to Citi Field each game. It's a demonstration of the Mets' and Steve Cohen's commitment to not just listening to the community but also for taking action."

John Davis contributed to this report.