How to rent a Citi Bike in NYC

[@UrbanCaffeine]

🌟Access to my NYC Blog, Creator Blog, and downloadable wallpapers → www.patreon.com/UrbanCaffeine

[@myronvenero9371]

Better explanation than the official one 👍 👍 👍

[@miked6523]

Great instructions. Makes me less anxious when visiting the big apple for the 1st time in a long time

[@PedroBelloMaldonado]

Ah... a video about Citi Bike. I was wondering when it was coming and I'm really happy it is here :D I do want to share and expand on some things (read for some great tips): - Every person I've met who used a Citi Bike, docked it the wrong way at some point on the first few rides and had to pay extra for a bicycle that was just stationed incorrectly. It happened to me and everyone I know. I also find bikes wrongly parked in stations all the time from people who most likely also didn't do it right. I park it for them correctly, but who knows how much money they've lost at that time. Make sure the green light beeps! - The key fob is really the best way to go, but I suppose that involves having a US address to get it. It may not be worth for those just visiting but if you live here, then it really makes it easy. - If you are taking a trip longer than 30 minutes with a day or annual pass, you can just dock your bike before the time is up and immediately take it out again to reset the time. We ran a full Foodie Fondo tour which is 25 miles and 6 hours using a Citi Bike and that trick. - The Bike Angel Program: If you have a Citi Bike yearly subscription, you can join the angel program for free. With it you get free electric bike credits AND with enough points they extend the year membership by up to 4 weeks. The best part, however, is the fact that once you accumulate 250 points, the time for a classic bike goes from 45 minutes to 60 minutes! - Be ready to go to a station and not find any open docks EVEN if the app says there are open docks. Sometimes the docks are faulty and no matter what you do the bike won't dock correctly but it will be marked as an open dock. I'd say 95% of the time things work correctly, but that 5% may be the time you are running late for a show and now you have to go somewhere else to park which adds to the already stressful situation (been there). It's better to be safe and account for that. All in all, the Citi Bike program is the best thing ever! I have my own personal bike that I use for everything and also a Citi Bike membership. I work outside the city, so I use a Citi Bike to ride to Grand Central and park it there so I don't have to worry about anything while I'm at work. For everything else, including Broadway shows and everything inside the city, I use my personal bike that I lock to anything sturdy using a U-lock and it's been really safe. I also vote for and support any politician who promises to expand the bike infrastructure as it is the best way to go around, even in the winter months.

[@UrbanCaffeine]

Wow, this is informative. Thanks for sharing! I didn't know about the e-bike credit and the extended 4 weeks. That's useful because many people don't ride bikes during winter.

[@2alta]

gonna tell people this is THE channel for all things NYC!

[@TripHacksDC]

Great tutorial. The official app is definitely the way to go.

[@osnat057]

Thanks for the excellent tutorial. The question: if it is written that the payment of $15 per day is unlimited, and includes 30 minutes, then do you have to return the bike every half hour? Thanks.

[@yusefkhan1752]

I wish there were more stations. There’s really not enough. Also I found it easier to get around SLC downtown because it had scooters everywhere that you can park anywhere. Scooters are safer because someone can disengage easily by just stepping off when necessary.

[@UrbanCaffeine]

I hope more cities develop better bike lanes and bike-sharing programs. It really is a good way to get people to drive less.

[@lifeisthedash]

I see the scooters when I visit Jersey. I think in Ny those scooters buzzing everywhere will be a hazard to drivers. At least bikes u can see them coming

[@C.m.B-s6k]

Thank you for sharing this useful Video❤

[@charliecooper5495]

super helpful! thanks so much!

[@pbatransit9487]

if you have an annual membership, there's a great program called bike angels where the app encourages you to pick up from full stations and dock at empty stations and you get points for those rides that can extend your membership, get you free ebike minutes, or even an e gift card reward, which makes the cost of the membership essentially free if you spend at least a couple hours a month doing this

[@CharlesReiche]

I've heard so many "my bike didnt dock and someone stole it" posts on reddit that I have been leery of taking one for a ride.

[@Dept246]

If you don’t dock the bike properly you end up buying it or about $1200.

[@f1ggyc]

I have a question: what happens if you get to a bike station but there are no docking spaces left? Do you have to ride to another station? I ask because I live in a city that has a bike share system but it doesn't have connected docks, so as long as you leave it near enough to the stations (which are just designated ordinary bike racks with fancy branding) on the bike's GPS then you won't get fined for abandoning it.

[@UrbanCaffeine]

I know at the kiosk at the stations you can request more time so you can find another station with an empty dock. I'm not sure if you can do the same within the app. But short answer is yes, you have to go to another station otherwise you will not be able to end your ride. It's nice that in your city you can just leave the bike within a range. I think that would be a problem in NY because people will most likely not properly park bikes and it will become a space issue. And then there are professional bike thieves. Lol.

[@justisligue]

Question, don't they have an (Unlimited for the electric bike.

[@mightymothernature]

Hello urban caffeine! I actually have rented citibikes and it is so fun. I also got the membership too!

[@JuCarlos-ex8ip]

Hey, thanks for the info

[@ALLOVERNYC]

Is there an app or website to sign in ?

[@Bk6346]

Lots of bad reviews on Trip Advisor but I feel it’s people who didn’t properly follow the instructions. A day pass still requires you to dock the bike in 30 minutes and get another bike. Some people may also have not docked the bike properly.

[@stephenblomfield6]

Well Hello again Thea. Another informative NYC video but not that impressive as far as Im concerned - the prices to rent out those bikes seems really steep compared to bus fares. Probably not for me on my next trip. Keep up the good work, you're a NYC You Tube favorite of mine.

[@UrbanCaffeine]

Hi there! Thanks again for the kind words. Yes, if you go by single ride the prices are indeed expensive. But for those that live here, the annual pass is great if you ride it all the time (it comes out to $16 a month). For a tourist, it would probably be more for the experience rather than getting around. $15 for a ride around central park or the water front is not bad.

[@Bk6346]

It for the tourists who want to ride bike in NYC. You can ride your rented bike through Central Park for example. Obviously a subway fare is cheaper but the views are not that great.

[@jamesstpatrick8493]

Excellent story maker

[@elliekim6666]

I have snap and get it for $5 a month . I just got a key. I don't even have any since I live on Staten Island but for $5 a month I'll go into the city and use it for fun mostly .

[@UrbanCaffeine]

That's awesome! Just riding along the water front in the city is a great way to spend time. You can't beat $5 a month. That's cheaper than a round trip on the subway!

[@davidestiber3491]

♦️What if I get caught riding without a helmet???

[@wendyscott6142]

What if you wanna stop for a bite to eat can you park the bike then eat then find the station park it at to end the ride ? My concern someone might steal the bike while I’m eating I’m wondering if a way to lock it

[@UrbanCaffeine]

I think it's against the rental agreement to lock the bike any way other than the designated docks. If you can supervise the bike while you eat, then I guess it would be ok. But you'd be running time on the bike. If you had a pass, you would probably want to dock it at a station first so you don't go over your time. But if you are paying for a single ride depending on how long it takes to get food, it might be more economical to just dock it and pay for another ride when you are done eating.

[@prajwalkrishnabhat5539]

Nice vid.

[@tarzanmike7836]

Curious where you were on your ride?

[@UrbanCaffeine]

I was at Hunter's Point Park.

[@BridgeBoii]

QUEEENSSS

[@JH-zr8lo]

I just ordered a bike key, there r times I can't get internet access, and I got scammed before too

[@ms9001]

thats quite expensive. $3.99 for 1 trip within 30 minutes. bus is better.

[@qjtvaddict]

IF it shows up

[@lifeisthedash]

​@@qjtvaddictu just time the bus in the app. U can see how far your bus is.

[@Bk6346]

People might want to see the sights while riding a bicycle.

[@ms9001]

@@Bk6346 i would take the bus to see the sights. the bus cost less and travels way further.

[@oceanwavesES]

why did you not mentioned the price........

[@videomaker012]

Why there is someone in New York throwing away Citi Bikes

[@corbenhavener7531]

Unlimited places. That’s what makes New York great. It makes micro mobility an option.

[@UrbanCaffeine]

Yup, it's nice that New York has Citi Bike available.

[@ver251209]

Fantastic

[@ALLOVERNYC]

Actual info at 1:34

[@nohandle343]

The price seems to be unrealistically high. If you compare it with a bus/subway, riding a bike costs a lot more. Plus I guess you need to carry a bike helmet around.

[@UrbanCaffeine]

Yeah, it's expensive a la cart. They really want people to get a subscription. It's meant for tourist to ride it for a day or two, and local to ride it all the time.

[@fafaffu2]

I see, I like

[@karasgold]

Why would someone waste money like that buy ur own bike

[@albertmyers7176]

👍👍👍😎

[@bhismilinirampersad3360]

👍😊🇹🇹🇹🇹

[@mildscientist]

bing bong

[@welfareoffice]

call the welfare office

[@joanitat9483]

In case of a flate tire, is there any help from CityBiƙe?