The cost of healthcare has gone up immensely since these systems were put in place.

Everyone pays more for less now, and I don't know how city/state governments can afford to absorb that massive increase in cost.

It doesn't have to but if the program doesn't have enough funding or if it is saddled with a bunch of unreasonable mandates (both things that happen to government run programs), it could wind up being terrible.

I would also say, if it were to ever be city run, why make it free? I'd rather they keep it affordable and focus on improving service quality.

I assume it is partially that and maybe also partially reduced pricing for low income folks. Don't know how many people fit into those two groups, though, relative to the overall size of the user base.

Still, make it cheap for too many people and you have to make it expensive for someone else.

If you think the service quality is bad now, wait until it becomes a free and managed by the city.

Is there any data on the equity members? I wonder what percentage of members fall under the equity program, and if it is getting any outside funding (i.e. city/state funding, or private grants).

While I think it is important to make Citi Bike affordable for everyone, if the equity program isn't being properly funded it could really drag down their ability maintain a decent quality of service.

I've had a Citi Bike membership for the last couple of years, but recently cancelled renewal and decided to purchase a personal ebike for a few reasons:

1. Too many busted bikes! Seems more often than not when I get on a citi bike something is wrong with it. Either the brakes work poorly, it has some weird clicking sound coming from the bottom bracket, the seat won't stay in place, or the front rack is rattling around. These kind of issues seem to be the norm.
2. E-bike availability sucks, and they are too expensive, even for members.
3. Finding an open dock at your destination can be waaay too much of a hassle because everyone seems to take pretty similar trips. For example, everyone rides to Red Hook on the weekends and just leaves the bike there (I assume in part because Red Hook is at a lower elevation), so you can't really count on being able to find a dock within walking distance of the water.

Perhaps if they were increasing the price in order to improve some of these problems, but it seems they are just doing it to keep up with increased costs.

"These guys are heroes."

No, you just don't want to go get your food yourself, or actually pay the real cost of having someone bring it to you.