There are so many options for public transportation in NYC. Unfortunately, they’re all easy to complain about. Everyone hates the MTA, taxis are too expensive, Ubers get stuck in traffic, and walking is just too slow. These days, my favorite way to get around New York is Citi Bike.

Citi Bike NYC: New York’s Rideshare Program

This May marked the 5th year anniversary of Citi Bike in NYC. I’ve been a member for 2 years. I love jumping on a bike whenever I want and then not having to worry about it when I’m done. Biking is so often the fastest way to get across town. I zoom past traffic, high above the subway tunnels and “Ladies and Gentlemen we are delayed” announcements. Citi Bike keeps me shockingly on time! Ridesharing has revolutionize my chronic tardiness! 

Yes, biking the city streets is stressful when you’re in the company of fearless delivery guys on bikes, taxi drivers who give no fucks, and the most fearless jay-walkers in the world. I understand why people think I’m bonkers for biking the Big Apple streets. The thing is, my 70 year-old mother commutes three miles every day, up and down the hills of San Francisco. I’m not kidding! She’s done it for decades! City biking is in my blood!

Sometimes I hop on a Citi Bike and spend my lunch break zooming around Central Park. There are few better ways to clear my head and re-energize. Citi Bike is now well into the outer boroughs: Brooklyn, Queens, and even Jersey City! A full station map is here.

How much does Citi Bike cost? An annual membership of unlimited rides is $169. They’re offering $25 off today if you want incentive! For me, it pays for itself with all the “fuck I’m running late! Have to take a cab” rides I’ve saved. For more details and day pass pricing visit the website.

Ok, it’s not all smooth sailing. Turns out even my favorite transportation isn’t without its issues.

Issues I’ve had with Citi Bike:

Sometimes the docks are full when you want to leave a bike, sometimes they are empty when you were hoping to take one. This is annoying, but usually there is another station nearby. The Citi Bike app updates with real-time data for how many bikes located at any dock. It’s super helpful.

There’s a learning curve to Citi Bike. The first time I used my membership, my bike had difficulty docking. I almost left it undocked, which could have resulted in huge feels for me! ALWAYS make sure the green light goes on when docking the bike, that means it’s locked in. The app is also helpful, I get an alert every time I dock, just to be safe!

Ride times are limited to 45 minutes with an annual membership, 30 minutes with a day pass. If I was to go for a longer ride, I have to pay an fee for every extra 45 minutes I ride OR I can avoid the fee by docking the bike before time runs out, checking out a new bike, and continuing on my way. Most of my rides are less that 45 minutes, so this is rarely a problem, but it is slightly annoying when it happens!

The pros far outweigh the cons, in my opinion. I love my Citi Bike membership! It’s by no means for everyone- plenty of people would sooner lick a city street than bike it. But if you love biking and want to save time? I highly recommend giving Citi Bike a try! For more nitty gritty deets, visit citibikenyc.com