Bikes are a great way to get around a busy city.
Bike-sharing apps, such as Citi Bike, have made biking accessible to people in cities worldwide without requiring individuals to purchase and store their own bikes.
Electric bikes have made biking even more popular because they move faster than traditional bikes and require less energy.
Read on to learn more about Citi Bike electric bikes, how they work, and how to find one for your next bike share rental.
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What Are Citi Bike Electric Bikes?
Citi Bike electric bikes are electric bicycles available to rent in various cities.
Citi Bike electric bikes, like their standard bikes, are designed for ease of use.
They are meant to be compatible and safe to ride for all bikers, regardless of size or biking experience.
Approximately 30% of Citi Bike’s electric bikes are currently electric.
How Do They Work?
Electric bikes are traditional bikes with an additional electric motor to help you pedal the bike.
The motor is powered by a battery that needs to be charged periodically to keep it running.
A sensor in the motor tells it how much power to use in the pedal assist function.
Most electric bikes also have a display screen to help you use the bike.
Electric bikes help you move faster using less energy because the motor assists you with pushing the pedals.
Some electric bikes use a throttle to speed up a bike.
However, these throttle-activated bikes can be dangerous, especially to other bikers using traditional bikes in the same spaces.
Many electric bike-share companies, such as Citi Bike, use the safer pedal-assist system instead of the throttle-activation.
For riders, the process of riding an electric bike is the same as riding a traditional bicycle.
How Much Do Citi Bike Electric Bikes Cost?
Citi Bike electric bikes cost an additional per-minute fee on top of the standard base price for using the bike share.
These are the costs of Citi Bike electric bikes:
- Single Ride Pass: 23 cents per minute on top of the $3 base fee for a 30-minute ride.
- Day Pass: 23 cents per minute on top of the $12 base fee for unlimited 30-minute rides in a 24-hour period.
- 3-Day Pass: 23 cents per minute on top of the $24 base fee for unlimited 30-minute rides in a 72-hour period.
- Annual Membership: Pricing with a Citi Bike membership is 15 cents per minute on top of the $169 base fee for unlimited 45-minute rides over one year. The additional costs for electric bikes are capped at $3 for rides under 45 minutes that start or end outside Manhattan.
Suppose a Citi Bike docking station has only e-bikes available.
In that case, the additional fee for choosing an electric bike is waived for your ride.
If you are a reduced fare bike share member, you will only need to pay an additional five cents per minute to use an electric bike.
Where are Citi Bike Electric Bikes Available?
Citi Bike electric bikes are available in the following cities:
- New York City (all five boroughs)
- Jersey City, New Jersey
- Hoboken, New Jersey
How to Find Citi Bikes Near You
Thanks to their new partnership with Lyft, you can quickly find Citi Bikes using the Lyft app.
If you don’t use Lyft, you can also find a bike using the Citi Bike app.
If you prefer to search online, you can view available stations in the New York City area or Miami using Citi Bike’s website.
Step by Step Tutorial for Finding These Bikes
Follow these easy steps to find an available Citi Bike near you using the Lyft App
- Download and install the Lyft app on Google Play or the App Store on your smartphone or other mobile devices
- Tap the bike icon
- Use the map to locate and select a nearby station with available bikes
- Look for a lightning bolt symbol to identify stations with charged electric bikes available for rental
Follow these simple steps to locate an available Citi Bike near you using the Citi Bike App
- Download and install the Citi Bike app from Google Play or the App Store on your smartphone or other mobile devices
- Use the map to locate and select a nearby station with available bikes
- Look for the lightning bolt symbol to identify stations with available charged electric bikes if you want to rent an e-bike
How do Citi Bike Electric Bikes Charge?
Citi Bike electric bikes do not charge on the docking station.
Instead, employees physically disconnect them from the dock to charge them somewhere else.
The company will likely release updates that will allow Citi Bikes to charge on the docking station.
Some electric bikes will charge themselves as you pedal, but Citi Bike electric bikes do not have this feature.
Citi Bike electric bikes take approximately 7 hours to completely recharge from empty.
It takes around 3 hours to reach an 80 percent capacity.
How Long Do Citi Bike Electric Bikes Last?
Citi Bike electric bikes last for approximately 30 miles of biking.
This is more than enough for your standard 30-minute ride in most cities where bike-sharing is available.
How to Rent a Citi Bike Electric Bikes
Renting a Citi Bike electric bike is quick and easy if you have the app downloaded on your smartphone or other mobile devices.
Follow these steps to rent your Citi Bike electric bike from the Lyft App
- Download and install the Lyft app on Google Play or the App Store on your smartphone or other mobile devices
- Tap the bike icon and select the station where you are located
- Purchase a single ride to reveal a five-digit code or a QR code
- Enter the five-digit code or scan the QR code on the rear fender of the bike to unlock it from the station
Follow these steps to rent your Citi Bike electric bike from the Citi Bike App
- Download and install the Citi Bike app from Google Play or the App Store on your smartphone or other mobile devices
- Click “Get a Pass”
- Select and purchase the pass or membership option you want
- Select “unlock a bike” to reveal a 5-digit ride code
- Type the ride code into any dock with an available bike
- Once the light turns green, lift the bike by the seat to take it off the docking station
Once you are finished using the Citi Bike, return it to any docking station.
Once the bike is returned to the dock, the light will flash green.
Once you see the green light, the bike is locked, and you can leave the docking station.
Tips for Renting a Citi Bike Electric Bike
Here are our top tips for renting Citi Bike electric bikes.
1. Choose the Best Payment Option for You
Citi Bike offers a variety of memberships, each appropriate for different situations.
Choose the one that is the best fit for you based on how often you will use a Citi Bike.
Note that electric bikes cost more money to rent than traditional Citi Bikes.
Here are the available options:
- Single Ride Pass: Pay for a single ride, up to 30 minutes per ride
- Day Pass: Purchase a day pass to access unlimited 30-minute rides in a 24-hour period
- 3-Day Pass: Purchase a 3-Day pass for unlimited 30-minute rides in a 72-hour period
- Annual Membership: Become an annual member for unlimited 45-minute bike rides for an entire year
2. Track Your Time Carefully
Remember to keep an eye on the clock when you rent a Citi Bike.
Even if you purchase a whole day or 3-day pass, keep in mind that you are still limited to 30-minute rides.
If your rides go over this amount, you will be charged extra money for the rental.
If you are an annual member, you will have 45 minutes per ride instead of 30 minutes.
3. Factor in the Additional Cost for an Electric Bike
Citi Bike charges additional money for an electric bike versus a traditional bike.
These additional charges are accrued per minute of your Citi Bike ride.
If you plan to use an electric bike, be sure to factor in this additional cost to your bike rental plans.
4. Familiarize Yourself with Traffic Laws In The Area
Before hopping on your city bike, research the bike laws in the area where you will be biking.
Be sure to know any rules or regulations that will apply to you while biking.
It is a good idea to review a map of the bike lanes in the city where you will be biking.
Choosing a route with bike lanes can mean a safer and more leisurely ride, even if it might take longer.
Always follow the traffic laws for bikers when you travel by bike.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some answers to frequently asked questions about renting Citi Bike electric bikes.
How Fast Do Citi Bikes Go?
Citi Bike Electric Bikes can get up to 18MPH in speed.
They move faster than regular bikes, making them a quicker option than traditional bikes or Citi Bikes.
Citi Bike electric bikes use a pedal-assist technology that increases your speed and makes it easier to ride.
How Do I Know if There Are Electric Bikes Available at a Citi Bike Station?
You can tell if a Citi Bike station has available electric bikes by looking for a lightning bolt symbol on the docking station map.
Next to each station with electric bikes, a lightning bolt will be followed by the number of charged e-bikes available at that location.
Do You Need to Wear a Helmet?
You should always wear a helmet when you bike, regardless of what bike you ride.
Biking accidents can be dangerous and even fatal if you are not wearing your helmet.
It is imperative to wear a helmet when biking in cities or dangerous areas.
You never know when you might be involved in an accident with a motor vehicle or other bikes.
Always wear a quality helmet that is the right size to protect you from significant injuries in the event of a crash.
Wrapping Up
Citi Bike electric bikes are an excellent option for traveling quickly around a city.
You can purchase single rides or an unlimited number of 30-minute rides for a specified duration.
Quickly locate Citi Bike docking stations with available charged electric bikes by using the Lyft or Citi Bike app on your smartphone or mobile device.
