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New York City bike share program bans ‘obese’ riders

New York City residents over 260 pounds and hoping to use the city's new bike share program expected to launch later this spring are outta luck.

The city now joins London, Boston, and Washington, D.C. in banning obese people from using city bikes due to claims that the bikes cannot withstand weight constraints that are higher, the New York Post reports.

The Department of Transportation claims the weight limit for the Citibike program was set due to a recommendation from the manufacture for the 40 pound bikes.

Oregon-based Alta Bicycle Share claims the bikes can break under excess weight, yet many bike shop owners say the weight limit is bogus.

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The city also claims it won't actively enforce the weight limit.

“I think people will be self-selecting, practical and safe,” says city policy director Jon Orcutt.

Naturally, this news has caused a bit of stir in NYC where some point to the hypocritical nature of a city that bans large sugary drinks and trans fats, yet won't let its heaviest residents ride city bikes to stay in shape.

One NYC woman tells Reuters that 260 pounds isn't even that high.

"There are probably big muscular guys and NFL players that would be barred from cycling."

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In another recent case of what some call discrimination, an Ohio woman who paid for a tanning package at a salon was later told she couldn't use the tanning beds because they had a weight limit of 230 pounds recommended by the manufacture.

The truth is there are all sorts of weight restrictions for various types of equipment from tanning salons to bikes to exercise machines.

What are your thoughts on businesses and government entities imposing weight limits for equipment? Do members of the public have the right to use the equipment regardless of their weight and the possibility of being injured?