Citi Smeared by Charge of Citi Bike ‘Discrimination’

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.