Woohoo! Citi Bike improves ‘Bike Angels’ loyalty program so you can earn free e-bike minutes coupons

The Bike Angels program – Citi Bike’s loyalty program – started a few years ago and allows Citi Bike member to earn points by redistributing bikes to stations running low across the city.

By doing so, Bike Angels can earn members a week extension on their membership and redeem those points toward a limited number of Citi Bike branded items like a white Citi Bike FOB key or helmet. Needless to say, there’s a lack of motivation to get excited with the program.

Bike Angels refreshed and ready to ride

While you’ve been riding up, down, and around, Citi Bike has been putting in work behind the scenes. The good news is that the recently refreshed app also came with changes to the Bike Angels program. To show their appreciation for sticking with Bike Angels, they’ve made some exciting improvements to the program.

What’s changed:

  1. Opportunities to earn e-bike minutes every month Earn 10 ebike minutes at 10 points each month, and a minute for every point between 80 and 200 for more than 2 hours of free ebikes every month!
  2. All new swag there is a lot more options in the swag store including collectible pins for each lifetime reward.
  3. See your points in the new Citi Bike app The new Citi Bike app shows your monthly and lifetime points totals. See points across the app, including mid-ride or when planning a trip. High-value stations are highlighted in pink.

Earning free e-bike minutes is the incentive we need

Since Citi Bike has brought so many more e-bikes to their system, they’ve become incredibly useful in getting to your destination 50% faster especially during months with extreme weather.

So with the announcement that Citi Bike is allowing points earned via the Bike Angels program to be redeemed for e-bike minutes is exactly the incentive that I need to more proactively participate in the program.

When you hit 10 Bike Angel points, you’ll earn a coupon for 10 free ebike minutes that you can find in your account. If you have multiple ebike minute coupons, you can redeem as many as you need for that ride you’ve been dreaming about.

With as much as I use e-bikes during the colder months, those free e-bike minutes will come in handy.

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Citi Bike’s electronic bikes will return this winter to New York City (with new pricing!)

If you’re a Citi Bike member then you may have received an email this afternoon with some great news. Citi Bike’s Ebikes will be available this winter. No date has been announced, so we’ll only have that timing to look forward to.

While the company was planning on having the electric bikes back earlier, they needed extra time to prepare the new bikes and complete safety testing. After feedback from members, the company also took the opportunity to announce a lower e-bike pricing structure (yay!). Check out the lower pricing for Citi Bike’s E-Bikes:

Lower e-bike pricing

Citi Bike is updating their pricing, which was a $2 charge on every ebike ride.

  • Annual Members will pay a $0.10/minute ebike charge.
  • Members’ ebike charges will be capped at $2 for rides 45 minutes or less beginning and/or ending outside Manhattan.
  • Two minute wait time removed to make it easy to swap from ebike to classic bike (and vice versa).
  • Non-Members will pay a $0.15/minute ebike charge.
  • Reduced Fare Bike Share Members will pay a $0.05/minute ebike charge.

We’ve always loved the public bike system — affordable and convenient, well worth the annual membership fee.

Extra time fee changes

Starting January 15, the public bike system owned by Lyft is also updating extra time fee. The current “late fees” are currently $2.50 for every 15 minutes over the allotted time — for Annual Members and Single Ride riders.

  • Annual Member fees will be $0.15/minute after the included 45 minutes.
  • Single Ride fees will be $0.15/minute after the included 30 minutes.

The new, per-minute pricing model is being promoted as one that will save riders money by only charging them for the time they use. Are you excited and want more and more and more electronic bike info? Read more about all the changes at Citi Bike’s blog.

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Citi Bike to add station to East 12th St. and Avenue B to alleviate demand in East Village

We’re excited that the Citi Bike program has finally started expanding into Harlem, Brooklyn and Queens, but this Lower East Side dweller was most excited to see that one of the newly-planned 140 stations includes a new station in Alphabet City. Continue reading “Citi Bike to add station to East 12th St. and Avenue B to alleviate demand in East Village”

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Removal of 14/B Citi Bike valet station causing capacity problems in East Village

Back in mid-July, Citi Bikers in the Lower Side Side/East Village received an email announcing that the Citi Bike station at 14th street and Avenue B would be removed. Continue reading “Removal of 14/B Citi Bike valet station causing capacity problems in East Village”

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How Many Bicyclist Deaths/Fatalities in New York City by Year (since 1996)

New York City has added miles and miles of protected bike lanes over the last couple decades as ridership has increased many-fold. Continue reading “How Many Bicyclist Deaths/Fatalities in New York City by Year (since 1996)”

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“Dockpocalypse” hits Citi Bike stations in East Village, Alphabet City

Living near the East Village, it’s not a rare occurrence to find the two Citi Bike stations nearest my apartment completely bare. When it happens, I have to walk to a station a couple extra streets to grab a bike. Continue reading ““Dockpocalypse” hits Citi Bike stations in East Village, Alphabet City”

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Get 24 free months of Citi Bike by referring 24 friends

Are you considering Citi Bike? If you open a new annual membership, you can get a free month through if an active member refers you for a membership.

Continue reading “Get 24 free months of Citi Bike by referring 24 friends”

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Did you get the dreaded “Looks like you’ve had a Citi Bike out for a while…” email from Citi Bike?

At 2:30 AM in the morning, I received the “OH CRAP” automated email from Citi Bike customer service telling you that something is amiss. You may have seen this subject line: Looks like you’ve had that Citi Bike out for a while… Continue reading “Did you get the dreaded “Looks like you’ve had a Citi Bike out for a while…” email from Citi Bike?”

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Citi Bike confirms locations for the 80 new stations in Upper West Side and Upper East Side

After much discussion and community input (complaining, letter-sending and yelling), a plan has been agreed on for the approximately 80 new stations planned for the Upper East Side and Upper West Side of Manhattan.  Continue reading “Citi Bike confirms locations for the 80 new stations in Upper West Side and Upper East Side”

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How to choose the best Citi Bike at the docking station

Picking a Citi Bike is a crap shoot. Other than kicking the tires, there’s not much you can do to ensure you chose a good or bad bike until you actually start riding the bike. Continue reading “How to choose the best Citi Bike at the docking station”

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1,000 brand new, redesigned Citi Bikes hit the streets of New York City

Citi Bike released 1,000 of their redesigned bikes this week. I wasn’t aware of the new bikes, so when I first came across one, it was a surprise. Continue reading “1,000 brand new, redesigned Citi Bikes hit the streets of New York City”

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No Valets: How to crowdsource Citi Bike’s supply and demand problem

Last year, Citi Bike introduced a new valet service to maintain balance throughout the bike sharing system. Continue reading “No Valets: How to crowdsource Citi Bike’s supply and demand problem”

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Citi Bike: System improvements and expansion coming in 2015

This morning, an email from the new CEO of Citi Bike Jay Walder, landed in my inbox. The email announced their plans on improving the Citi Bike service in 2015. Continue reading “Citi Bike: System improvements and expansion coming in 2015”

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Citi Bike: What does the “Trip Open/Completed” status mean?

Every so often when I log into my CitiBike account to check out my usage. Last month I came across a “Trip Completed” in my history.   Continue reading “Citi Bike: What does the “Trip Open/Completed” status mean?”

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Red/Yellow/Green: What does it mean when I get a red light on a Citi Bike dock?

It’s been about a month now since I started my Citi Bike membership. I love the program; it’s completely changed how I access the city.  Continue reading “Red/Yellow/Green: What does it mean when I get a red light on a Citi Bike dock?”

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Citi Bike Review: Is Citi Bike Worth $100? Hell Yes.

I resisted Citi Bike for nearly a year.

I liked the idea of the city’s bikeshare program, but since I already had a monthly MTA pass, my own bike sitting at home, I pushed off Citi Bike as a nice-to-have, but was more a luxury that I would only use from time-to-time.  Continue reading “Citi Bike Review: Is Citi Bike Worth $100? Hell Yes.”

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