Forum Discussion

MB688's avatar
MB688
Resourceful Rider
7 months ago
Solved

Bike angel rewards

I just amassed another 1000 Bike Angel points, went to the app to redeem and see the value is now $150, reduced from $200. When, and much more important, WHY did this happen?

citibike
  • Lyft_Omar's avatar
    Lyft_Omar
    7 months ago

    Hey there MB688 and Jerv3 ,

    We made some changes and updated the points to redemption values to ensure fairness and better health to the Bike Angels community and its riders. Essentially, we made these changes to ensure the spirit of the program was kept.

    Our intent is definitely NOT to demean and we appreciate that honest feedback. We appreciate all our Bike Angels and want to ensure they feel respected and heard while also ensuring the health of the BA program.

15 Replies

  • Pizzafan457's avatar
    Pizzafan457
    Resourceful Rider
    6 months ago

    It would have been reasonable and fair to allow those with banked points to redeem them at the prior valuation. For example, all points earned prior to the change should have been redeemed at $.20 per point and then you’d announce the change that points earned post a certain date would reference the new change. Also you could have given something to bike angels that had earned a significant amount of points and had been deemed to not abuse the system 

    • Leslie52's avatar
      Leslie52
      Steady Solver
      4 months ago

      YES!  This is a bait and switch.  Complete corruption.  They have taken a page from the government's playbook.  You pay into a system and depend on the long term investment and then they decide not to compensate you for your investment.  They outlawed this with travel rewards...we will have to see what they say when we report this to the consumer protection bureau.  Some of us actually were legitimately redistributing the bikes.  If they did not properly program the system or clearly state the "rules," then it would be fair for them to adjust points moving forward...but not cheating us out of 25% of what we had already earned.  Banks cannot take back interest earned in the past just because you do not remove your investment by some arbitrary date that they never even notified you about!  RANT RANT!  Unfortunately we are probably within the rare few who do not live "paycheck to paycheck" and trusted that Lyft would be fair in honoring its agreement over time. 

    • conrad's avatar
      conrad
      Resourceful Rider
      7 months ago

      Agreed. I've been busy so just made my first redemption since December and was surprised to see the change. I've been doing this for almost a year and a half and my work is now worth less, apparently. Cost of living, meanwhile, has gone in the opposite direction, as always.

      • conrad's avatar
        conrad
        Resourceful Rider
        7 months ago

        AND there's no more ACH option? What the hell am I supposed to do with a gift card? I often average 700+ points a month, but after this I'm just doing the bare minimum to extend my membership and get a few free e-bike rides. I'm effectively done being a bike angel now. Great job, guys!

  • mkozlov's avatar
    mkozlov
    Resourceful Rider
    7 months ago

    Just noticed this change too. It's frustrating that this wasn't announced publicly. Now the $150 gift card is the same value as the $30 e-bike credit ($0.15/point). This isn't fair to loyal Bike Angels.

  • NakedHikerNYC's avatar
    NakedHikerNYC
    Resourceful Rider
    6 months ago

    So let me get this straight … the charges have gone up and the rewards have gone down? Not cool, people …

  • alliej's avatar
    alliej
    Resourceful Rider
    30 days ago

    I just hit 30 minutes, most of it on hold, on a phone call with Citibike trying to learn the process for redeeming points for cash:  the agent I'm talking to sent me to this website, but also told me that you can't redeem points for cash.  Has Citibike quit offering points for cash?  And if not, how do I cash in?  I don't want to hit 'redeem' for 1000 points and then find out I can only spend the loot on Amazon or at Citibike itself.  Could someone please walk me through the process?  I'd appreciate it - but I wish I'd cashed in when you could still get 200 clams!

    cheers and thanks folks.

     

    • Leslie52's avatar
      Leslie52
      Steady Solver
      30 days ago

      Yup...they screwed us all.  Bait and switch.  I believe this may be illegal.  And, the app says points "never expire."  The answer is "NO!" you can no longer earn cash.  The jargon regarding "the spirit of the program" is clearly something some young naive employee (with no comprehension of opportunity cost) came up with.  There are plenty of more productive ways for us to contribute to society if we want to do good without putting ourselves in harm's way.  

      • alliej's avatar
        alliej
        Resourceful Rider
        29 days ago

        I guess the solution for me is to quit caring about points and let them pay the Citibike employees to move bikes around.   The list of retailers doesn't include anyone I want to spend my 'money' with, and I've banked enough points for a free membership until my 67th birthday.   Dealing with the lack of information and misinformation from Citibike about this issue took a ridiculous amount of time.

  • Lyft_Omar's avatar
    Lyft_Omar
    Bike Angels Team
    7 months ago

    Hey there MB688 and Jerv3 ,

    We made some changes and updated the points to redemption values to ensure fairness and better health to the Bike Angels community and its riders. Essentially, we made these changes to ensure the spirit of the program was kept.

    Our intent is definitely NOT to demean and we appreciate that honest feedback. We appreciate all our Bike Angels and want to ensure they feel respected and heard while also ensuring the health of the BA program.

    • Leslie52's avatar
      Leslie52
      Steady Solver
      4 months ago

      This is far from "fair" and does not guarantee that people will "play" by the rules going forward...especially after you cheated us out of thousands of dollars for no reason whatsoever.

  • alliej's avatar
    alliej
    Resourceful Rider
    30 days ago

    hi -  I got this letter from Omar and replied, asking, who are these retailers?  Where can I find a list of retailers?  It's not on the website, in the app, and I haven't found a list of retailers in this chat.  And I haven't heard anything back from Omar.  I've been asking different Citibike people this question for awhile - I'm on hold with Citibike now and the agent is just sending me to this website!  Why is this information so hidden?

    Below is the letter from Omar, promising that the card can be used at a 'wider array of retailers' than before.  I'd rather have cash than buy something.  Does anyone have any information about the process for getting cash, or where they've been able to use the gift cards?

    thanks - 

    j

     

     

    Omar (Lyft Bikes & Scooters)

    Aug 18, 2025, 3:33 PM PDT

    Hi there Janet,
     
    My name is Omar and I am from the Customer Advocacy team and post on the Bike Angels community!
     
    Bike Angels is a program that creates community and helps fellow riders out by offering rewards. We regularly review the program’s reward offerings to ensure the health and fairness of the program. 
     
    Bike Angels rewards were updated to align with the spirit of the program. Angels continue to have the option to choose among ebike credits, membership extensions, Lyft credits, and gift cards. Angels will now/now have the option to claim gift cards from a wider array of retailers or donate their rewards to charity.
     
    Please let us know if you have any additional questions or concerns.
     
    Best,

    Omar