Alternative NYC transport options

Despite being expensive, New York City is an amazing place to live. The job market is attractive, the food is outstanding, and you’ll never run out of interesting things to do.

However, getting around New York can be challenging. The traffic is horrendous at the best of times, public parking is impossible to find, and private, paid parking is absurdly overpriced. The same goes for rent in the Big Apple. The real estate market in NYC is notoriously competitive. Your best option is to rent from a company like Blueground which offers a wide range of beautiful apartments that are completely furnished and fully equipped, which will make your move simple and quick. They are also located in some of the city’s best locations, including beside subway stations.

For getting around this dense metropolis, many people rely on the public transit system, however that can’t get you exactly door to door. So, that’s why another great transportation option is Citi Bike NYC.

Why Citi Bike NYC?

If you live close to work, walking is great. However, if you’re in a hurry or if you don’t live close enough to the office, then you’ll be stuck riding the subway. 

As the name implies, with Citi Bike NYC you can rent bicycles to get around the city. Many people prefer going this route because it’s both faster than walking, and far less stuffy and stressful than the Subway. Plus, it’s also great for your health and it helps the environment by reducing your carbon footprint. 

How does it work?

Citi Bike has hundreds of stations around Brooklyn, Jersey City, Manhattan, and Queens. You can pick up and drop off a bike at any of these stations.

Citi Bike offers day passes and annual memberships. Two types of day passes are available, one for 24 hours and one for 72 hours. They both include unlimited rides of no more than 30 minutes on classic Citi Bikes. Additional fees apply for a longer ride. The day pass will set you back $12, while the three-day pass is $24. 

The membership fee is $169 per year or $14.95 per month with an annual commitment. It includes an unlimited number of rides of no more than 45 minutes on classic Citi Bikes. For rides over 45 minutes, you will pay an extra $2.5 for every 15 minutes. 

When you consider that a 30-Day Unlimited Ride MetroCard costs $127, it is clear why so many people prefer to use this alternative transportation form in NYC. Not only is it far more affordable, but it’s a good workout and far less unpleasant than riding on the subway. 

4 Citi Bike tips for a great ride

Citi Bike can seem a little confusing to use at first. Plus, biking around New York can seem complicated and at times dangerous. These tips will help.

Get the app

Nowadays, there really is an app for everything, and that includes Citi Bike. The Citi Bike App will make your life much easier. The app will allow you to easily find the nearest Citi Bike stations.

You’ll also be able to see how many bikes are available at each station and how many free docks there are. 

You’ll also have access to other useful tools such as a route and bike lane finder, a timer, and a locator for bike shops. 

Plus, if you enable push notifications, you’ll even receive a confirmation when you dock the bike so that you don’t accidentally walk away while the timer is still running. 

Check the bike first

To avoid unpleasant surprises, make sure to check the bike before you leave. Citi Bike conducts regular maintenance on all their bikes.

But that doesn’t mean that problems don’t occur.

So, check the wheels to make sure they spin freely and don’t wobble.

Also, make sure the tires aren’t flat, have bulges, cuts, or bubbles. Lastly, make sure both brakes work properly so that you’re able to stop in a hurry.

Plan your biking route

You might be tempted to just wing it and ignore the map.

However, this can end up costing you a pretty penny.

Remember, on a day pass, you’re limited to a 30-minute ride, while an annual membership gives you a 45-minute ride. Any longer than that and you will pay overage fees.

Instead of paying extra, just make sure to dock your bike before the allotted time runs out. You can easily take another bike and continue on your trip without paying anything extra.

However, to do this, you need to plan your route so that you are close to a Citi Bike station when you need to return the bike. 

Look for green

When returning your bike, make sure that the docking takes. It can require a bit of finessing to make sure you’ve docked the bike properly.

So, don’t leave until you see the green light appear.

If you leave and the bike hasn’t been docked properly, someone could easily steal the bike and then you’d be liable for $1,000.

Even if the bike isn’t stolen, you’ll still pay through the nose because the overage fees will add up. 

Alternative transport options in NYC

If biking isn’t your thing and you’ve tried out the public transit system but aren’t a fan of that either, don’t fret. 

You can also use taxis or ride-share apps like Lyft or Uber. Just keep in mind that this approach can get expensive so you might want to save it for only when it’s necessary.

Plus, in a ride-sharing situation, you’ll still be stuck in the same traffic as everyone else, so it’s not necessarily the fastest option.

Another option is a pedicab. These are cycles with three wheels and a small cab in the back. The advantage is that they come with a driver, so you can get around pretty quickly without putting in the effort of biking (or directions) yourself.

These days, in many major cities, services like Bird Scooter are available. These electric scooters are not only fun, but they can make getting around a busy city really easy.

Unfortunately, at this time, Bird Scooter NYC isn’t legal, though this alternative transport means may be coming to the city soon.

When it comes to getting around New York, Citi Bike is a great option. Not only will the exercise do wonders for your health, but you’ll find yourself in a better mood when you don’t have to sit in traffic.