That Citi Bike rider next to you in the bike lane might be your future doctor, architect, or elected official. This month, Citi Bike and our official wellness partner, Healthfirst, will provide more than 1,200 free, two-month Citi Bike memberships to participants in New York City’s Department of Youth and Community Development’s Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP), which connects youth from the across the city with career exploration opportunities and paid work experiences.
“As the official wellness partner of Citi Bike, Healthfirst is excited to be playing a role in this year’s Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) by making available free Citi Bike memberships for more than 1,200 participants for the duration of the program,” said Bill Abrams, VP, Brand and Marketing Communications, Healthfirst. “The SYEP is so important to help young people in New York City have meaningful and fulfilling activities during their time off from school that will keep them safe and provide potential job opportunities for the future. We wanted to ensure that the participants had an accessible and affordable transportation option to commute to their jobs. Plus, while they are developing career skills, they can also engage in a healthy activity.”
From July 1, 2022 to August 31, 2022, Healthfirst will sponsor more than 1,200 two-month Citi Bike memberships for 16-24 year olds enrolled in this year’s SYEP program who live or work in the Citi Bike service area. All recipients will be required to attend a training to learn how to ride Citi Bikes to receive their free membership.
The city’s SYEP program, which is the largest in the country, runs for six weeks in July and August. The program provides young people with on-site and virtual project-based and paid opportunities with over 65 employers to help them develop their professional, social, civic, and leadership skills. The worksite experience cohorts will begin on July 5th and July 11th, 2022, offering employment opportunities for young people between the ages of 16-24.
For more information on Healthfirst, please visit healthfirst.org.