Citi Bike: New York’s bike-sharing service

What You Need to Know About Citi Bike

• New York has its own bike-sharing system: Citi Bike. Launched in May 2013, it arrived later than similar services in other cities, but the system has grown rapidly since then.
• Today, Citi Bike is the largest bike-sharing service in the United States, with 27,000 bikes and more than 1,700 stations across New York. The service operates 24/7 in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, Jersey City, and Hoboken. However, you won’t find Citi Bike stations on Staten Island.
• The fleet includes both standard bikes and e-bikes. You choose when you rent. E-bikes cost more: an extra $0.26 per minute.
• Citi Bike is available to anyone 16 and older, including tourists. You can easily rent a bike to explore the city’s bike lanes, especially along the Hudson River or in Brooklyn. I’ll explain pricing and how it works below.

How to Rent a Citi Bike

• First, download the Citi Bike app on your phone (iPhone or Android). You can also use the Lyft app if you already have it.
• Choose a plan. There are three options. If you’re visiting New York, you can pick between Single Ride (one trip) or Day Pass. The third option, an annual membership, is mainly for New York residents. Here are Citi Bike rates for 2025:

Citi Bike New York	Single Ride	Day Pass	Annual Membership
Price	$4.99 for 30 minutes	$25	$239
Overage	$0.41 per minute over 30 minutes	$0.41 per minute over 30 minutes	$0.25 per minute over 45 minutes
E-bike surcharge	$0.36 per minute	$0.36 per minute	$0.24 per minute

• Scan the QR code to unlock a bike and ride. Use the bike lanes whenever possible and follow traffic rules.
• When you reach your destination, find a Citi Bike dock and lock the bike securely. You can pick up a bike at any station and return it to any other station in the network.
• Important: if you don’t return your bike within 30 minutes (for Single Ride and Day Pass), you’ll be charged $0.38 per minute. Going 15 minutes over costs about $6. Watch the time and return your bike on schedule to avoid extra charges.
• Make sure to dock your bike properly. Push the front wheel all the way in and check that a green light blinks. If a yellow or red light stays on, the bike isn’t locked correctly—try again or find another dock. Tip: a bike that isn’t properly docked is considered lost after 24 hours. You’ll be charged a $1,200 fee plus taxes. It’s worth taking care to lock it right.

Other Options for Renting a Bike in New York

• Because of the 30-minute limit, Citi Bike works best for short trips—as an alternative to the subway, bus, or taxi. It’s not practical for a half-day or full-day ride through Central Park; the cost will be too high. With Single Ride pricing, you’ll rack up steep overage charges. Four hours of riding costs more than $60. The Day Pass isn’t ideal either for sightseeing, since you’d need to swap bikes every 30 minutes and hope one is available at the next dock—plus you’ll pay overages if you go past 30 minutes.
• For a half-day or full-day rental, I recommend renting from a traditional bike shop instead. You’ll also get a handy city map. See our guide to bike rentals in Central Park.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the bike-sharing system called Citi Bike in New York?

Citi Bike is named after Citi Bank, which sponsors the service. The New York-based bank has invested a total of $111.5 million in the program through 2024 and is expected to continue its support in the coming years.

How do I use Citi Bike in New York?

The bike-sharing service is open to everyone—residents and tourists alike—as long as you’re 16 or older. You need the Citi Bike app on your phone and a plan that suits your needs.