New York City's Department of Transportation (DOT) is proposing to install 500 new bike lockers across the five boroughs, a plan that could cost up to $26 million. The initiative, intended to provide secure storage for bicycles, has drawn criticism from some residents concerned about the expense and the potential repurposing of street parking.

The proposed lockers, each capable of holding six bikes, are estimated to cost around $52,000 apiece. The DOT is soliciting public input on potential locations for these installations. However, some New Yorkers have expressed skepticism, suggesting alternative boroughs for the lockers and voicing concerns about existing issues with bicycle traffic.

"Maybe in Brooklyn?" one Upper West Side resident, Susan Lennon, suggested, citing problems with reckless delivery drivers and e-bikes in her neighborhood. Another resident, Serge Ossorguine, echoed this sentiment, stating the lockers "doesn't make sense here" in Manhattan.

Barry Goralnick, a resident of Union Square, argued that cyclists already flout traffic rules and should not be prioritized with expensive amenities. "I honestly think that we’ve given so many resources to bicyclists who don’t appreciate it," he said. Data from the DOT indicates that approximately 9% of New Yorkers regularly cycle, with just over 60,000 commuting by bike in 2023.

The plan includes a city-branded app for access and payment, with annual memberships for residential parking and hourly rates for stations near transit hubs. E-bike charging facilities are also planned for select locations, available for an hourly fee.

Claudia Weber, a Harlem resident, found the concept "good for the community" but questioned the significant cost. A DOT spokesperson stated that a final price has not been set and emphasized that the program aims to address storage challenges for New Yorkers without space at home. The spokesperson added that the lockers would repurpose a small fraction of vehicle parking spaces, estimated at around 600 spots out of an estimated 3 million citywide.

The DOT is directing New Yorkers to its website to submit suggestions for locker locations.