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3 min read Arts & Culture

Citi Bike To Host ‘Bike-In’ And Movie Night, But Will ‘The Goonies’ Be Good Enough?

Citi Bike
A Citi Bike station is now located on 5th Avenue and 3rd Street outside of J.J. Byrne Playground and the Old Stone House. (Photo by Donny Levit / Park Slope Stoop)

“The Goonies never say die,” and neither will the proponents of the new Citi Bike expansion which arrived last month in our neighborhood.

On Thursday, September 22, Citi Bike will hold a “Bike-In” Outdoor Screening of iconic 80s movie The Goonies to celebrate the second wave expansion to Park Slope, Gowanus, Carroll Gardens, Cobble Hill, the Columbia Street Waterfront District, and Red Hook. Pre-movie activities begin at 6pm at the Prospect Park Bandshell.

The announcement from Citi Bike called the movie a “childhood classic,” but some of us never grew up when it comes to our affection for the 1985 film.

According to a press release, Transportation Alternatives will provide free valet bike parking “for anyone who pedals to the event on a personal bike.” And Citi Bike will offer valet service at a special “mobile station” for riders to end their trip directly at the bandshell.

Motivate, the operators of Citi Bike, will offer reduced-cost Citi Bike memberships for those attendees who sign up for Citi Bike for the first time.

Citi Bike
[Left – Right] Kim Maier, Executive Director, Old Stone House; Gilly Youner, co-President, Park Slope Civic Council; CB6 District Manager Craig Hammerman; Daniel Wiley, Community Coordinator for Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez; John Frost, E.D. of Bikeshare Program, DOT; NYC DOT Commissioner Polly Trottenberg; Council Member Brad Lander; Doug Gordon, Brooklyn Spoke; Citi Bike General Manager Jules Flynn; Paul Steely White, E.D. of Transportation Alternatives. (Photo by Donny Levit / Park Slope Stoop)

While many local neighbors and New Yorkers are taking advantage of the growing bike share program – in fact, ridership on September 8 hit a record number of rides at 61,266 – some residents have shown strong disapproval of the program.

Police were called to last week’s CB6 General Committee Meeting after community members showed up to voice their anger about many issues surrounding the program, including the loss of parking spots and placement of stations.

“I am outraged,” said Marianne Borrelli who has lived in the area for over 50 years. “You wake up and there are bikes on every block. It’s total overkill and just horrible.” Borrelli, along with a number of other residents, has collected signatures to remove and reduce the Citi Bike stations.


Chaos erupted at last week’s CB6 General Committee Meeting over the Citi Bike expansion. (Video by Amy Holiday/Park Slope Stoop)

As of today, the newly formed Say NO To Citibike [sic]  has not announced any protests at the event. However, it’s unclear if the Bike-In will take place quietly.

Citi Bike has no intention to stop growing. At last month’s ribbon-cutting event, NYC DOT Commissioner Polly Trottenberg said “We’ll have more bikeshare stations than subway stations” with this expansion.

The Event Rundown: “Bike-In” Outdoor Screening of The Goonies to Celebrate Brooklyn Expansion
When: Thursday, September 22 beginning at 6pm
Where: Prospect Park Bandshell, Enter at 9th Street or 11th street at Prospect Park West
Details: 6:00 – 7:20pm — Pre-movie activities. 7:20pm/dusk: Screening of The Goonies. Attendees are encouraged to bring blankets and chairs, as there will be no formal seating for the event. Grab a bite at the food trucks, or a free snack from Clif Bar. Clif Bar will also provide small bike repairs on site.
Event attendance is free. RSVP to reserve your seat.

Published by:

Donny Levit