By now, you and everyone you know has heard about Citi Bike in New York City. And while they are great to get around town, they also provide a wonderful opportunity to tour NYC from a rarely enjoyed vantage point. Getting a Citi Bike membership  couldn’t be easier : just figure out if you’d like a day pass, a 3 day pass or a yearly membership for just $14.95 a month.

 

 

 

 

Citi Bike has locations all over Manhattan which makes the service a great option to tour NYC.

 

 

 

After signing up for your Citi Bike membership, it’s time to map out your tour of Manhattan. If you are going in August the northern-most spot to pick up a bike is at 85th Street, but  by the end of August  you’ll have the opportunity to get a bike between 96th and 110th Streets.

 

 

 

After picking up your Citi Bike on East 85th Street, you can ride it west for seven blocks until you get to Central Park. Then the gorgeous expanse of 843 acres that makes up Central Park is your oyster. Central Park has some rules  that they ask cyclists to abide by and most are common sense.

 

 

 

The Park has a lot to see on a bike, including Belvedere Castle and the Loeb Boathouse, but start off by going north in the Park to bring you to the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir. The Reservoir is a quick 1.5 mile loop that should be part of any bike ride through the Park. After cycling around that you may want to stop by Public Fare  around West 81st Street for a quick bite to eat or at one of the food carts that line the Park.

 

After getting your fill of Central Park, continue heading south so that you can see the Theater District from a new vantage point. You won’t want to dally here, but Rockefeller Center is nearby if you want to check out that landmark.

 

You’ll be in the Village in no time, and that’s the perfect spot to people-watch. You can drop your bike off at West 23rd Street to stroll around the eclectic streets while you stop at a cafe. Once you’re ready to hop back on the bike, consider heading over to Little Italy for a cannoli or Chinatown for some bubble tea. Both neighborhoods are wonderful to tour on a bike, with their small streets and neighborhood treats.

 

As you continue to head south, swing by City Hall to check out how beautiful the civil building is in person. Although it’s closed off to the public, the surrounding green space and park is worth stopping by, especially when the flowers are in bloom and the fountain on. Make sure to keep an eye out for the bold squirrels who are used to getting treats from folks passing by.

 

You’ll see the World Trade Center as you continue on your way to Battery Park. At Battery Park, you can loop around and admire the southernmost point of Manhattan, along with where the Hudson River meets the East River.

 

You can park your Citi Bike at a Battery Park location before hopping on a subway to take you back home, or if you’re up for it, you could bike back uptown! Either way, you’ll have seen Manhattan from a great vantage point and have earned a well-deserved rest after that bike tour.