Even in our world of reliable technology, surprises can happen, sometimes at the most inconvenient moments. Like the time my trusty Citi Bike Key Fob decided to take an unexpected break. For years, I’d operated under the assumption, instilled by my father’s wisdom about solid-state devices, that things without moving parts are virtually indestructible. “If it doesn’t wear, it won’t tear,” he always said. However, as I discovered firsthand, even Citi Bike key fobs, those seemingly simple pieces of tech, can indeed fail. My experience began with a completely unresponsive fob, leaving me stranded at a station and prompting a mini-adventure across downtown Manhattan.
My initial attempt to unlock a bike was at the West 3rd and LaGuardia Place station. Normally, inserting the key fob into the reader is met with a reassuring blink of lights, a clear signal that you’re good to go. Sometimes, the light patterns are a bit of a puzzle, like that time I encountered the confusing red and yellow light signals, but usually, it’s straightforward. This time, however, there was nothing. No lights, no sound, no response whatsoever. My first thought was that perhaps the entire station was offline.
To rule out a station issue, I walked to another nearby location at Bleecker and Mercer Streets. As luck would have it, I encountered another Citi Bike rider struggling to check out a bike. I shared my key fob woes, and he kindly tested the station with his own fob – which worked perfectly. This confirmed my fear: the problem wasn’t the station; it was definitely my key fob. Still getting absolutely no response from the reader, it was clear I needed to contact Citi Bike support.
A call to Citi Bike support connected me with an agent who efficiently reviewed my account. She mentioned closing out some “open trips,” which sounded routine on her end, but it did trigger a moment of panic for me. I vaguely recalled the user agreement mentioning a hefty $1,200 charge for a lost bike. The idea of being charged for something I hadn’t done was unsettling. By this point, I was already walking towards my destination and happened to pass a third Citi Bike station at Lafayette and Houston Streets. Following the agent’s suggestion, I tried my key fob there as well. Again, no luck. My key fob was officially bricked.
Accepting the inevitable key fob failure, the support agent arranged for a replacement to be mailed to me, with an estimated arrival in two to five business days. Just as I thought the call was wrapping up, she surprised me by asking if I wanted a 7-day pass in the meantime. A loaner key fob, essentially? That sounded like a fantastic solution.
There was just one minor hurdle: the touch screen at the current station was out of order. Undeterred, I headed to a fourth station at Mott and Prince. To activate the temporary seven-day membership, I had to go through the standard non-member sign-up process. This involved providing a credit card, phone number, and agreeing to a $100 deposit hold on my card. Once I confirmed all the terms, the agent provided a coupon code to waive the $25 fee for the 7-day pass. Finally, armed with a five-digit unlock code, I successfully grabbed a bike and set off towards Rivington and Suffolk.
Looking back, it was a bit ironic. By the time I actually started cycling, I had already covered a significant portion of my intended trip on foot, navigating from station to station. Despite the initial frustration, the Citi Bike support team was helpful, and the experience served as a reminder that even the most reliable tech can occasionally have its off days. And while solid-state devices might be generally robust, it’s always wise to be prepared for the unexpected, even with your Citi Bike key fob.
