The first time I saw a bike share program was during my first trip to Copenhagen. The bikes were pretty crappy and rarely available at the docking areas. One positive about the program was that borrowing a bike was free. I’m not sure of the exact amount, but from what I recall we had to put in a €1 coin to get a bike. Once you returned your bike to one of the docking areas, your coin was returned. I tested out one of the bikes for a half hour or so and it was a fun way to spend a little time during the visit.
(I recently read that the bike share program in Copenhagen was recently discontinued.)
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Over a year ago I heard that a bike share program would be coming to NYC. Right away, memories of the bikes in Copenhagen came to mind. I definitely felt that adding a bike share program to NY would be a great addition. It could be another fun activity if you don’t own a bike or it could be used just to get around the city.
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One big different with the NYC bike share program (called Citi Bike), is that the bikes are not free to use. To use a bike, you need to purchase an annual membership or an access pass good for 24 hours or 7 days.
On Monday, April 15 annual memberships for the Citi Bike program went on sale. Thousands of memberships were sold within the first hours of registration according to Transportation Nation.
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Thousands of bikes will be available at hundreds of docking stations around Manhattan and Brooklyn. The bikes are adjustable so they should “be used comfortably by people of a wide range of heights”.
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The Cost to use Citi Bike:
- Annual Membership: $95- Unlimited 45 minute trips
- 24 Hour Access Pass: $9.95 + tax- Unlimited 30 minute trips
- 7 Day Access Pass: $25 + tax- Unlimited 30 minute trips
The timer resets each time you dock the bike. If you go over the included time, you will be charged additional fees.
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Overtime Fees:
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Annual Membership:
- up to 45 min- free
- 45- 75 min- $2.50
- 75- 105 min- $9.00
- every addl. 30 min- $9.00
24 Hour & 7 Day Access:
- up to 30 min- free
- 30- 60 min- $4,00
- 60- 90 min- $13.00
- every addl. 30 min- $12.00
The NYC bike share program could be costly to use but if you use it for short trips it could probably save you a lot of money. If you return your bike within the free time frame, you need to wait two minutes between rides before you borrow a bike for your next trip.
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To find out more about the Citi Bike program and to purchase an annual membership, Click Here.
