photo via
When I first heard the news that Citi Bike was coming to NYC, I assumed it would be a complete mess. As someone who had biked around NYC a bit, I knew it to not be a particularly bike friendly city and if people who didn’t know how to bike took to the streets of the city, I couldn’t see this going well. After a couple of disaster-free months and tons of New Yorkers taking advantage of Citi Bike, it looked like it was here to stay.
As a bike-loving, subway-hating New Yorker, I decided to join the crowd and sign up for a yearly Citi Bike membership. MM and I both joined last Fall and during winter, stayed away from biking. Now that it’s warm, I’ve started using the bikes again and have gotten a bit more comfortable navigating the city bike lanes.
The first time you get on a Citi Bike, especially if you are used to a road bike, it feels like a tank. It’s heavy, moves slower, but feels super steady and secure. You don’t need to be a pro biker to be able to handle these simple bikes. The only adjustable thing is the seat, there are three gears and a bell. That’s all it is! After riding around the city, I’ve learned a few things that have made my rides easier and safer. If you’re new to Citi Bike or considering joining, here are my tips to navigate riding in NYC:
- Wear a Helmet: May seem like a no-brainer, but I’m shocked at how many people down’t wear helmets in the city. I know that the Citi Bike bikes are more steady than other bikes so you aren’t likely to fall over, but without a helmet, you’re leaving your safety in the hands of drivers, other bikers and clueless walkers. While there have been times I want to jump on a Citi Bike but don’t have my helmet handy, I’d rather skip the ride than risk it helmet-less.
- Test the Breaks: The Citi Bike are pretty well maintained, but just to be safe, give the breaks a little test when you start your ride. Make sure everything is functioning as it should before you really get going.
- Stay Alert: Unfortunately, riding in NYC doesn’t get to be a ride where you can zone out and cruise. Unless you’re in Central Park on an empty day, you need to stay alert at all times. The minute you lose focus, one of those annoying tourists staring into space will step right in front of your bike.
- Pack the Essentials: When prepping for a ride, I make sure to have my helmet (can you tell how serious I am about helmets yet?), sunglasses, a backpack (two favorites from Lululemon: all day backpack for heaver loads and run all day backpack for minimalist rides) and hand sanitizer. I don’t even want to think about how dirty the handlebars are so hand sanitizer is a must.
- Right of Way Means Nothing: While you might have the right of way, don’t depend on it. As I keep saying, there are a lot of clueless people wandering around NYC. You’ll notice that people use the bike lanes as walking lanes and trucks use them as unloading zones. Don’t assume that because you have the right of way, people will get out of your way.
- Use Your Voice & the Bell: Each Citi Bike is complete with a bell, and while you should use it to alert people in your way that you’re coming, they will probably ignore it. Use your voice to signal you’re coming, along with the bell.
- Check The App: Citi Bike has an awesome app that lets you know where the stations are, how many bikes vs open spots there are, and can map out your route. As many bikes and stations as there are, they can run out of bikes, so before you head out, make sure you know where there’s a bike and also where you can easily drop it off at the end of your trip.
The above list makes Citi Biking sound stressful, and it kind of is. That being said, I’m still a fan, and here’s why: you can avoid a packed sweaty subway and get fresh air while getting where you need to be, it’s faster than walking and sometimes faster than the subway, and with a membership it’s way cheaper than the subway. A yearly Citi Bike membership is $155 and an unlimited monthly subway pass is $116.50, so yea, how can you even compare those costs? And obviously it’s cheaper than cabs.
If you join Citi Bike, it may take you some time to get used to riding in the city, but stick with it and you’ll feel comfortable soon enough and will enjoy the fresh and and smooth riding.
Do you use Citi Bike? Any tips I missed? Share them below!
If it’s good enough for Leo & Jonah, it’s good enough for me. photo via
