I had my first experience today on the new New York bike share plan, https://citibikenyc.com/, and it was mostly positive.

I walked over to the check out post at 11th and 2nd Avenue, near my office at Union Square, here in NYC. It took me awhile to figure out how to check out the bike with my little key. The instructions beside the slot were completely wrong. They referred to punching in 5 numbers on the key pad. I had no five numbers, and there was no keypad. What’s up with that? All I had to do was put my blue fob into the slot. Then the light flashed green and I could lift it out. But all the talk about five numbers and a keypad confused me. And the bike would not come out. Luckily, someone else was checking in a bike, and she showed me how you had to lift the bike from the back to get it out. That worked. But I bet a lot of people will have trouble with that.

Then I was off, going down the bike lane on 2nd Avenue. My first big complaint was one I suspected. The bike didn’t fit me. I had put the seat all the way up, but still my knees were almost level at the top of the pedal cycle. That’s too bad for me. I am hardly a usual size. I’m six foot seven, and I have extra long legs, even for someone my height. Maybe I could buy a booster seat, or make one. Seriously.

But leaving that aside, the little bike road well. I made it to Delancey street, and turned left, aiming for the Williamsburg bridge. My plan was to go across, and then check the bike in somewhere around hip-central in Williamsburg. I figured if the bike wasn’t handling, or I got tired, I could turn around. I also was keeping an eye on the time. As a annual member, I had 45 minutes. Given the moderate pace I was traveling, that might be tight. I hit the bridge, and started pedaling. It was slow going, and tiring, on a bike that didn’t fit me. But eventually I hit the middle of the bridge, over the East River, and then coasted down. I then made my way pretty easily to a docking station at Metropolitan and Bedford. I docked my bike easily, in one of two open docks available. This was a weird thing. Of the scores of docking slots, only two or so were free. Virtually no one had checked out a bike in Williamsburg. That surprised me. I  thought all these hipsters would rush to it. Maybe they are all sleeping in, or the blue bikes aren’t artisanal enough for them. Whatever. I looked at my watch. 33 minutes had passed. I had made it. But if I had been on a day pass, I would not have, and would have been charged extra. Maybe the city should make it 45 minutes for everyone, or even an hour. After docking the bike, I walked down Bedford, and surveyed the scene.

My first time bike share experience was mostly good, as I said. My biggest and most pleasant surprise revolved around what it was like to use a bike, but not to be tethered to it. Usually when I take out the bike I own, it’s like a date I can’t get rid of.  With Citibikes, when I got tired of my date, I could leave her behind. Or to switch metaphors, the bicycle was a movable feast. I could ride over to Williamsburg, dock the bike, and then forget about it. If I wanted to return to Manhattan, I could check out a different bike, at the same docking station or a different one. This was very nice. I could see mobile, independent New Yorkers get very used to this. I bet creative types will invent all sorts of way to use these share bikes, in ways not imagined.

Some other thoughts. I wore no helmet, not having one with me. My decision to go and try out the new Citibikes was a spontaneous one. Not wearing a helmet was on my mind, no pun intended, due to certain occurrences lately. How could we make it easier to wear a helmet? Maybe someone could invent a collapsible, foldable bicycle helmet! Maybe it already exists! Something made of little panels. I could then stuff it in my briefcase, and get it out when needed. Yes! I just found this on the internet. Seems to be a work in progress: http://mashable.com/2013/01/30/folding-bike-helmet/

Despite views on bike helmets too involved to summarize here, I’m increasingly thinking that New York is just too dangerous to bicycle in without a helmet. If New York were Amsterdam or Copenhagen, I’d have a different opinion and heartily endorse helmetless cycling. But we ain’t Amsterdam, by a long shot. But how do you easily get helmets to people who need them? It’s a challenge. And how do you change the behavior of drivers, who are the ones who necessitate wearing helmets? It’s also, a challenge.