LeBron James Surprises Harlem Teens With Citi Bike Memberships

HARLEM, NY — LeBron James surprised Harlem kids Tuesday, to announce a new partnership between his company Uninterrupted and Lyft to provide free Citi Bike memberships for teenagers.

James delighted dozens of teenagers when he made the unannounced visit to the YMCA on West 135th Street and Adam Clayton Powell Junior Boulevard. The appearance was preceded by a video made by Lyft featuring a voice over from James, but the kids didn't know the all-time NBA great was in the building.

During his remarks, James said that a bike changed his life while growing up in Akron, Ohio.

"It was more than a way to go see my friends or play basketball – it was a way of life. A bike opened doors, allowed me to get to safe places after school, and gave me access to opportunities I never would have known. I’m proud that Uninterrupted can join Lyft in bringing that access to kids and people in communities across the country," James said in a statement.

James also endorsed the creation of more bike lanes during his speech at the YMCA, saying the infrastructure is important for kids to ride safely in the city.

The NBA superstar is in New York City in preparation for the Los Angeles Lakers' Wednesday game against the New York Knicks in Madison Square Garden. James has a penchant for making news while his teams visit New York. When he played for the Cavaliers in 2017, a video of James and his teammates riding the subway went viral.

James' company Uninterrupted will work with Lyft — which bought Citi Bike in 2018 — and the YMCA to distribute free memberships to 16- to 20-year-olds, a Lyft spokesperson said. The company did not reveal how many memberships would be awarded, but did say that all the teens in attendance for James' surprise visit will receive them. The program will launch in New York but will eventually expand to Lyft's bike share networks in Chicago and the San Francisco Bay Area.

"With LeBron as our inspiration, we want to demonstrate how transportation can be a spark that helps young people reach their full potential. The future of transportation is exciting, and we feel a deep responsibility to help make transportation accessible to all," John Zimmer, Lyft co-founder and President, said in a statement.