NYC New Option to Gain Points Moving ebikes?
My yearly Citibike membership expired Monday. While I was in expired mode, I no longer saw Bike Angel info (lifetime points, station point info, etc. ). I did see that there was an option to move low...
Forum Discussion
Hi, Gaffano, thanks for posting in the community. Glad you got your Bike Angels access restored. Non-members won’t see the option to play Bike Angels, but your points and stats are waiting for you when your membership is restored.
We have started deploying charging stations in NYC, which will improve ebike availability and reduce vehicle drive time associated with manual battery swaps. To support the switch to charging stations, some riders are seeing incentives in their app. For now, Bike Angels won’t see this option.
We appreciate your feedback, which helps us make improvements to the overall experience.
Not sure why Bike Angels can't participate, as we are the one group most likely to do this and create more benefit for Citibike.
Thanks JessI
I would love if BA were able to participate in the battery charging rewards program. The only reason I do BA these days is to accumulate e-bike credits since it is an expensive ride! And it seems like it is getting harder and harder to accumulate points and the reduced speed of 15MPH increases a ride time by like 17% (18mph to 15MPH….and therefore cost of an e-bike ride has increased 17%) Plus I know a major cost of e-bikes is the cost of replacing the batteries (sending CitiBike people to the stations with fresh batteries). So BA could reduce that cost by moving bikes to the charging stations. Seems like a win win.
One question, under your current program, when someone moves an e-bike to a charging station and is awarded e-bike credits, do you still charge that member the $.26/minute fee?
Yes, people are still charged fees while they move low power bikes (since they still get assist). The intention is for people to adjust trips they were already taking rather than to move bikes for the sake of moving bikes.
Thanks Remco! I think this program is a great idea. Its clear that the cost of sending someone to replace batteries is inefficient, especially with keeping cost down. Hopefully, this eventual cost savings will benefit all Citibike users especially with stable or reduced ebike fees. I also hope that Lyft/CB expand Bike Angel incentives for ebikes. Like I have mentioned before, the per trip cost of renting an ebike is usually more than the cost of bus/subway ($2.90). I rely on Bike Angel points to help subsidize this expensive form of transportation when I need it, especially now with reduced speed to 15MPH while fees the same. In effect making the trips longer and more expensive. BTW, with all the money NYC is making from Congestion Pricing, why are we not seeing any help with Citibike pricing??? Start asking questions........!
Wait a minute ... you're not offering these new incentives to the community that has been relocating bikes for years in return for the incentives that you currently offer? How does that strategy make sense?
