Call it a “fat” lip for Citibank.
The Citigroup-sponsored Citi Bike initiative is weathering charges of “discrimination” over weight limits of 260 pounds on its Citi Bikes, the public network of 10,000 bicycles in New York sponsored by the mega bank.
According to The New York Post:
Can obese cyclists sign up for the city’s new bike-share program? Fat chance!
It is “prohibited” for any rider who weighs more than 260 pounds to sign up for the soon-to-launch initiative — prompting backlash from riders who say the fat-shaming rule is enough to make them fly off the handle.
Everyone who signs up for the program has to agree to a contract, which states users “must not exceed maximum weight limit (260 pounds)” because the bikes can’t hold that much heft.
Would-be riders called the rule unfair, saying the 40-pound cruisers are plenty sturdy.
“That’s bogus. 260 pounds isn’t going to break the bike,” said Juleissy Lantigua, 19. “To me, that’s discrimination. And I’m not easily offended!”
Citigroup agreed to pay the City of New York $41 million for the naming rights of the public initiative, which is pitched as healthy for New Yorkers and the environment. MasterCard, meanwhile, is the “preferred payment provider” of the bike sharing system.
A request for comment from Citigroup went unanswered.
Citi Bike launches this month — at least for some people.
This is the dumbest non-controversy I’ve seen in quite some time. When was the last time you saw a 260-pound person on a bike… anywhere??? How many 260-pound people are asking for Citi’s bikes in NYC? Maybe three?
It isn’t weight “discrimination” if the bikes are stress-tested to 260-pounds. It’s called “using a product within safe operating limits.” If the manufacturer of an ultralight aircraft says their planes are only safe up to 250 pounds, then what happens when a 260-pound person tries to take off? They crash.
Of the obese complainers, you have to ask: At what point can manufacturers/lawyers start implementing weight restrictions? 300 pounds? 400 pounds? 500 pounds? Or is every chair, every elevator, every swing in every park, every amusement ride, everywhere a person can park their butt… are all those places supposed to accommodate an infinite amount of fat?
Just plain stupid.