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Tip: Use Bike-Share Programs to Explore New Cities

Emily McNutt
Articles
Emily McNutt is The Points Guy's Global News Editor and is based in London.
July 27, 2017
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2 min read
New York - Citibike bike-sharing program in NYC
Tip: Use Bike-Share Programs to Explore New Cities
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Traveling to new cities can get pricey. Between the airfare, cost of the hotel and more, there's sometimes little money leftover for a tour. One of the best ways to save money when exploring a new city is through a bike-sharing program.

For those not familiar, a bike-share program allows you to check out a bike at one station, ride it for a limited amount of time and then return it to a station. As of December 2016, around 1,000 cities around the world have a bike-sharing program... here are just a few examples:

  • Barcelona (Bicing)
  • Boston (Hubway)
  • Brussels (Villo!)
  • Chicago (Divvy)
  • Hong Kong (Gobee.bike)
  • London (Santander Cycles)
  • Los Angeles (Metro Bike Share)
  • Madrid (BiciMAD)
  • New York City (Citi Bike)
  • Oslo (Oslo Bysykkel)
  • Paris (Vélib)
  • Sāo Paulo (Bike Sampa)

When you're planning your next trip, be sure to check with the city's website to see if a bike-sharing option is available. In most cases, you can buy single-use passes or day passes if you plan to use a bike for an entire day. One of the best ways to see a city is by walking or biking through its streets, and bike shares make the latter option much easier. The low cost will help to save money on your vacation — and you can skip your cycling class with a scenic workout.

Featured image by Corbis via Getty Images