So today I got to have my first experience with the City Bike program. I had to pick up my ceramic creation I painted on Saturday, which was in the 9th district. Since I was helping Debbie set up her new Facebook account, I got to go with her and use the City Bike program. From the way I understand it, you pay only 1 Euro per year to sign up and with that you can use the bikes all around the city – and there are MANY locations all around for drop off and pick up. Your first hour is free, and time beyond that costs a little more. However, if you wait 15 minutes between rides, you can get to use a bike for another free hour. You get a bike by putting your card into the kiosk and selecting the corresponding number of the bike you want. Then the machine releases the bike for you. When you return it to the same or another kiosk, it reads your bike electronically and accepts it back. If you’ve had your bike longer than and hour, you will be charged more on your account.
Debbie’s apartment is just down the street from mine, so we picked up our bikes just off of Taborstrasse. We then worked our way through the streets until we got to the canal. After crossing the bridge into the Inner City, I got to have the full taste of urban bike riding. Bear in mind that I hadn’t ridden a bike in years. And even though you never forget how to ride, I was someone who had always done my bike riding in the country or small town areas. I had never ever ridden in the city. So it was a bit of a rush to have cars all around you while you’re riding in the special bike lanes. I let Debbie lead, as she’s been quite used to riding in the city.
The first drop off location we came to was full, but there was another just a few blocks up the street. After that, it was only a couple blocks walk to the ceramics store.
I can definitely say that if I was staying here longer, I would absolutely get my own City Bike card. It’s super cheap and super convenient.
