Bike Rental NYC: Where to Rent and What You’ll Pay

Renting bikes in New York is a fantastic way to see the city, especially once the weather turns nice.

There are three ways to do it: rent from a bike rental shop, book a bike tour, or pay for Citi Bike, New York's public bike share system.

But which one makes the most sense? Here's how each works and what it costs.

1. Bike tours

If you've just arrived in New York and don't know it well, booking a tour with expert guides is a very safe way to explore by bike.

You'll ride in a group with a guide who shares useful background along the way.

Here are the most recommended bike tours in New York:

Brooklyn Bridge bike tour

On this 2-hour ride you'll cross the Brooklyn Bridge, then roll past the historic houses of Brooklyn Heights with sweeping views of Lower Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty in the distance.

Price: $50

Central Park bike tour

On this two-hour ride a guide takes you to the most important spots in Central Park.

Seeing this huge New York park by bike is a great idea, because you'll never cover it all on foot (you won't cover all of it by bike either, but you will get to the most iconic sights).

Price: $60

2. Renting bikes in New York by the day

There are several tourist-oriented bike rental services in New York. They're pretty cheap, and while some charge by the hour, others charge for the whole day (renting the bike for the full day is far more convenient and better value).

The rental includes a helmet, a bike lock, and a map with recommended bike lanes. If you want to explore the city on your own, this is an excellent option.

If you bought the New York Pass, a few hours of bike rental are included 🙂

Here are three bike rental services that travelers rate highly:

• Rent bikes for a full day (from $30!)
• Rent bikes in Central Park by the hour (from $16 for one hour)
• Rent bikes in Lower Manhattan by the hour (from $16 per hour)

It's worth booking online, since walk-up rates in New York are a bit higher.

If you're traveling with kids, this is a lovely way to see New York, and there are bikes for every age.

3. Renting bikes with Citi Bike

Citi Bike is New York's public bike share system. New Yorkers use it constantly for short trips, without worrying about traffic or wasting time parking a bike.

How does Citi Bike work?

First, sign up for Citi Bike through the app (search for Citi Bike in the App Store or Google Play) or directly at the kiosks available at every bike station. You must be 16 or older to use the service.

You'll need a credit card, which will be put on hold for a $101 security deposit. It's released two business days after your pass expires.

After that, you just enter the 5-digit code you receive when you take out a bike.

How much does it cost to rent bikes with Citi Bike?

There are 3 types of Citi Bike rates:

• 1-day pass ($12)
• 3-day pass ($24)
• Annual pass ($155)

Maximum ride time

You can use the service as many times as you like during the period you paid for (unlimited rides).

That said, each ride has to be under 30 minutes or they'll start charging you $4 extra for every additional 15 minutes (deducted from the hold on your card).

Annual memberships have different time limits and surcharges, but since my Newyorkando guide is for travelers, I'll focus on the 1- and 3-day passes.

What if I don't return the bike or it gets stolen?

In those cases they'll charge your card up to $1,200, so be careful.

To avoid problems, make sure the bike is properly docked at the station when you return it (a green light should flash; if you see a yellow or red light, try another open dock).

Is Citi Bike worth it?

It's ideal for short trips, but it doesn't work if you want to roam the city worry-free, because of that stressful 30-minute limit on every ride.

As I mentioned, if you go over the 30 allowed minutes, the system charges you $4 for each extra 15 minutes.

An example:

If you decide to ride for 3 hours on the same bike, you'll pay for two and a half extra hours, that is, 10 extra blocks of 15 minutes = $4 x 10 = $40.

Add the $12 day pass to the $40 in overage and that 3-hour ride ends up costing you $52, when a tourist bike rental would have run you $30 for a full day.

Bottom line: we don't think it's a good deal for tourists, but I'm explaining how Citi Bike works because so many people have asked me.

Do you have to wear a helmet when renting a bike?

Helmets aren't required in New York (they are mandatory for kids under 13), but they're strongly recommended.

Map of bike lanes in New York

At this link you'll find a map of New York's bike lanes. Very handy for planning your rides.