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In late May, the Citi Bikes launched in the West Village, and docking stations sprung up everywhere, full of shiny blue bikes looking like credit cards on wheels. I was all for the system and watched from my stoop as the racks were tested, then filled, the bikes sprayed down, tires topped off with air. Since then, I have seen a whirlwind of bikers in motion: mounting and dismounting, either in states of confused frustration or triumphant satisfaction. All the activity made me want to get in on the action.

I bought two 24-hour passes and saddled my husband into coming along. Right out of the gate we ran into glitches, as the computer system crashed after taking my debit card, resulting in a call to customer service. The keypad was quirky, displaying in Spanish when I selected English. Hardly touch sensitive, the screen was inaccurate making it difficult to enter information. When you use a day pass, each time you use the bike you swipe your card and receive a code; the first code failed on the five bikes my husband tried, but the second code worked and we were off.

Our first destination on my planned route was South Street Seaport. In learning about the bike program, my biggest issue with it was the 30 minute ride limit (45 if you have a yearly pass). Friends explained that this system was not meant for leisure rides, but for getting from point A to point B. Yet my time concern proved valid as it took us 33 minutes to get to South Street at a swift pace with only a 15 second stop for a sip of water in 95 degree heat; this added $4 each to the rental price for overtime charges. We know the area, but I hate to think of tourists riding between these tight docking deadlines, getting lost, panicking, and looking at their apps instead of approaching traffic.

We left the Seaport for the East Village; the iPhone showed no bikes available nearby. After a 10 minute walk to a subway we checked again and a few had been returned. We hopped on and headed north. No problems this time. As we searched for a place to park with people hovering and angling to secure an open dock, I realized that the bikes will get you from point A to point B, but via points C, D and E, depending on how many docking stations are full upon arrival.

The following morning, with a few hours left on my pass, I decided to ride the 30 blocks to the gym. Unfortunately, the code didn’t work on any of the bikes in the station outside our apartment. I took the subway with the intention of biking home. On my journey home, though there were several available bikes, the kiosk wouldn’t read my credit card and I continued to swipe at different speeds as the bikes disappeared one by one to other riders. Again I took the subway.

Whoever uses these bikes – and I know a lot of people do – must have the patience of saints. I, however, am an irritable New Yorker and the whole experience left me feeling stressed. I understand that the system is new and there is a learning curve. My main complaint is time; who wants to be racing against the clock for an open dock? I am pro-bike, always have been and I still fully support the bike share. When they work the kinks out, it will be fun for tourists and be a great alternative to the subway for those who have a short-ish commute. It promotes a healthy lifestyle and is good for the environment. However, I do hope they fix these l issues soon or others like me will be left just spinning their wheels, going nowhere fast.

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