Last spring, cyclists got a two-wheeled answer to Airbnb and VRBO.com: , a national online bike-rental service. Bike owners upload photos of their rides, along with locations and prices broken down by hour, day, and week. Renters log in, scroll through the inventory, and select their vehicle of choice. I tried it out on a recent weekend in Manhattan, picking up a sleek black Fuji Feather single-speed called Midnight Rider for $15, complete with helmet and lock. It handled the West Side Highway bike path like a champ. Sure, New York鈥檚 share program, Citi Bike, launched this summer. But you have to pay extra for rides over 30 minutes, and the bikes look like CitiBank credit cards on wheels. I鈥檒l take the Midnight Rider any day.
Take My Bike鈥擣or $20
A new online bike-rental service provides an alternative to other bike-share programs
(Photo: Ed Yourdon/Flickr)
New perk: Easily find new routes and hidden gems, upcoming running events, and more near you. Your weekly Local Running Newsletter has everything you need to lace up! .