Rent a Bike in New York

Want to explore New York on two wheels instead of on foot? The city has nearly 25 miles (40 km) of protected bike lanes in Manhattan. Renting a bike is straightforward: you can either use Citi Bike, New York’s bike-sharing system, or rent from a specialized rental shop. Here’s how both work:

1/ Renting a Citi Bike in New York

• The Citi Bike service launched in New York in May 2013 and now operates 27,000 bikes across 1,700 stations throughout the city.
• The name Citi Bike comes from its sponsor, the American bank Citi Bank.
• To rent a Citi Bike, you first need to sign up for the service. Three membership options are available, with two designed specifically for visitors:

1. Day Pass ($25) gives you multiple 30-minute rides over 24 hours. You can take a bike, ride for 30 minutes, return it, then take another bike for another 30 minutes at no extra charge. After 30 minutes, you’ll be charged $0.38 per additional minute. Plan your trips to stay within 30-minute intervals.
2. Single Ride ($4.99 per trip) includes 30 minutes of riding. Beyond that, you’ll be charged $0.41 per additional minute.
3. Annual Membership ($239 per year) is primarily for New York residents. It includes 45 minutes of free riding per trip.

2/ Renting from a Bike Shop

• You can also rent bikes by the hour or day from specialized rental shops. This offers several advantages over Citi Bike. You won’t need to worry about returning the bike every 30 minutes or constantly swapping bikes.
• Rental shops also include a free helmet and lock with every rental. You can leave your bike anywhere to take photos, visit a store, or grab a meal.
• Prices are competitive with Citi Bike, especially since you keep the same bike all day. Expect around $16 for 2 hours, $25 for 4 hours, and $27 for a full day. It’s more convenient and often better value than Citi Bike.

Where to Rent a Bike in New York

• You have two main rental locations: Central Park and near the Brooklyn Bridge. For Central Park, visit our bike rental page for Central Park. Central Park is by far the most popular spot to rent a bike in New York. You can explore this vast park without tiring yourself out. From there, you can easily reach the long bike path that runs along the Hudson River all the way to Battery Park, at the southern tip of Manhattan.
• You can also rent bikes near the Brooklyn Bridge. Note that the rental location moved in summer 2026. You now pick up bikes in the Carroll Gardens neighborhood, south of Brooklyn. This is less convenient unless you’re staying in that area during your New York visit.