How well does the city bicycles all over Buenos Aires with Ecobici work? Availability, issues?

[Bharat]

When I was in Buenos Aires last month I saw a lot of bicycles around the city with Ecobici -

Tembici – Disfrutá de la Ciudad en bicicleta

baecobici.com.ar

I didn't try to use it but I use the one in Mexico City all the time and it works really well.

https://ecobici.cdmx.gob.mx/en/

How available are the bikes? Can I access it as a non-resident foreigner? Is it reliable and the App work well? Is the coverage very good with good drop off locations, etc? Can one reasonably get around with them? I saw many bike lanes as well which was nice but traffic looks chaotic so not sure how safe it is.

 

[Bobbie Burgers]

Oh, it's a flawless system, except for the tiny detail that the bicycles are like relics from the ancient times, and I got banned because their genius system accused me of not returning a bike that I totally returned. (I did return it and verified it but their system must be bad). I had to fight them for it and had to dispute my credit card charge.

Oh, and don't forget, you have to enter a DNI # or brace yourself for those "tourist rates," which, by the way, are more expensive than a first-class ticket to the moon.

So, yeah, maybe consider investing in your very own bike? Just a thought.

 

[Vero]

Oh, it's a flawless system, except for the tiny detail that the bicycles are like relics from the ancient times, and I got banned because their genius system accused me of not returning a bike that I totally returned. (I did return it and verified it but their system must be bad). I had to fight them for it and had to dispute my credit card charge.

Oh, and don't forget, you have to enter a DNI # or brace yourself for those "tourist rates," which, by the way, are more expensive than a first-class ticket to the moon.

So, yeah, maybe consider investing in your very own bike? Just a thought.

That is horrible @Bobbie Burgers about the system not working to show you returned the bike. I use it all the time and haven't had issues. I have a DNI and wasn't sure what the tourist price is but I see tourists using them all the time in Palermo. I use it to go to work and come home and I always find some available. Sometimes I do have to go a few extra blocks to find one.

 

[Vince]

I'm in NYC now visiting my folks and my nephew told me he uses NYC's version all the time:

Citi Bike: NYC’s Official Bike Sharing System | Citi Bike NYC

Experience the best way to get around Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Hoboken & Jersey City with Citi Bike, New York’s bike share system.

citibikenyc.com

Looks really good and not expensive. He said he pays about $200 US for the entire year. So that seems great. He uses them daily. I never used it in BA as I heard a horror story from my friend. The bike he used was really old and the chain broke and he didn't want to get charged so he had to hand walk it really far. After that I didn't want to try it. Plus traffic is crazy in BA.

 

[earlyretirement]

So I used these today. A bunch of stations don't work. First I went to the station near Distrito Arcos and the station was done to pull bikes out. I then went down to Santa Fe and after some issues was able to finally check one out. I have a DNI and so does my wife but I had all kinds of issues on the app. I couldn't use my USA credit card so I added my Argentina debit card and it worked.

My wife her Argentina debit card wouldn't work but a USA credit card would. Go figure. We rode around a few hours and came back to the same station to return them. She was successful returning hers but I couldn't. The stations wouldn't accept the bike. The only other station was at Distrito Arcos so I tried there and fortunately it would accept the bike to dock it back. So the software and system is very glitchy. But served it's purpose. Very affordable. We only used it for 2 hours but just paid for the day as the hourly one didn't work. It was 1,700 pesos for the day pass.

 

[Blockchain]

So I used these today. A bunch of stations don't work. First I went to the station near Distrito Arcos and the station was done to pull bikes out. I then went down to Santa Fe and after some issues was able to finally check one out. I have a DNI and so does my wife but I had all kinds of issues on the app. I couldn't use my USA credit card so I added my Argentina debit card and it worked.

My wife her Argentina debit card wouldn't work but a USA credit card would. Go figure. We rode around a few hours and came back to the same station to return them. She was successful returning hers but I couldn't. The stations wouldn't accept the bike. The only other station was at Distrito Arcos so I tried there and fortunately it would accept the bike to dock it back. So the software and system is very glitchy. But served it's purpose. Very affordable. We only used it for 2 hours but just paid for the day as the hourly one didn't work. It was 1,700 pesos for the day pass.

I tried using these but the App would never work for me. It wouldn't let me sign up. What a waste.

 

[reggie]

So I used these today. A bunch of stations don't work. First I went to the station near Distrito Arcos and the station was done to pull bikes out. I then went down to Santa Fe and after some issues was able to finally check one out. I have a DNI and so does my wife but I had all kinds of issues on the app. I couldn't use my USA credit card so I added my Argentina debit card and it worked.

My wife her Argentina debit card wouldn't work but a USA credit card would. Go figure. We rode around a few hours and came back to the same station to return them. She was successful returning hers but I couldn't. The stations wouldn't accept the bike. The only other station was at Distrito Arcos so I tried there and fortunately it would accept the bike to dock it back. So the software and system is very glitchy. But served it's purpose. Very affordable. We only used it for 2 hours but just paid for the day as the hourly one didn't work. It was 1,700 pesos for the day pass.

I could never get this app to work. They have a tourist package but never would let me enter my details. They really need to work on the app to allow tourists to use them. Those bikes are all over but many people say they can't use the app.

 

[CraigM]

I could never get this app to work. They have a tourist package but never would let me enter my details. They really need to work on the app to allow tourists to use them. Those bikes are all over but many people say they can't use the app.

Ah that is a bummer. I couldn't get the app to work either so my local friend set it up on my phone using his passport and DNI. After that it was great, never had a problem getting bikes or returning them. Some of them weren't in the best condition but they were certainly good enough to get around BA's flat terrain.

 

[earlyretirement]

It is a shame that the city doesn't do a better job with getting this App to work. Lots of tourists want to do it but the App doesn't work well. Even with my DNI and my wife's the system seems glitchy. Hopefully it will improve as there are many bikes around the city. It would be great if it works to use them.

 

[Avocado]

Ah that is a bummer. I couldn't get the app to work either so my local friend set it up on my phone using his passport and DNI. After that it was great, never had a problem getting bikes or returning them. Some of them weren't in the best condition but they were certainly good enough to get around BA's flat terrain.

Very bad app. They have an option for tourists to rent for a day but none of my friends from outside Argentina can ever use it. I had friends that came to visit me and wanted to use it and it did not. I had to let them use mine but it will only work one at a time. I tried to use my husband but it don't work either. So my friend get stuck not using it because only one could ride.

 

[Jenn]

Ah that is a bummer. I couldn't get the app to work either so my local friend set it up on my phone using his passport and DNI. After that it was great, never had a problem getting bikes or returning them. Some of them weren't in the best condition but they were certainly good enough to get around BA's flat terrain.

How often did you use these @CraigM? Are there a lot of stations? Can you get around from Palermo to Recoleta in bike lanes? I heard the drivers there are terrible.

 

[CraigM]

How often did you use these @CraigM? Are there a lot of stations? Can you get around from Palermo to Recoleta in bike lanes? I heard the drivers there are terrible.

Used them multiple times each day. The neighborhood bike lanes are very good and once you enter that enormous park network you couldn't be safer. But I always assume cars and pedestrians cannot see me and that safety is 100% my responsibility, not theirs. I think this makes me happier too.

 

[Blockchain]

Ah that is a bummer. I couldn't get the app to work either so my local friend set it up on my phone using his passport and DNI. After that it was great, never had a problem getting bikes or returning them. Some of them weren't in the best condition but they were certainly good enough to get around BA's flat terrain.

I walked around the lake in Palermo and it looked ideal to ride a bike. I would have loved to if the App worked! I saw a lot of people riding bikes with a group. I guess they were part of some group tour?

 

[earlyretirement]

Used them multiple times each day. The neighborhood bike lanes are very good and once you enter that enormous park network you couldn't be safer. But I always assume cars and pedestrians cannot see me and that safety is 100% my responsibility, not theirs. I think this makes me happier too.

I walked around the lake in Palermo and it looked ideal to ride a bike. I would have loved to if the App worked! I saw a lot of people riding bikes with a group. I guess they were part of some group tour?

Yes that is the best place to ride the park is in the park (Parque El Rosedal). As you can see from the photo it's perfect. Several people walking, jogging, riding bikes and roller blading in this area. It is a great area. When I moved here 23 years ago I never thought I'd ever see bike lanes in BA. Traffic drivers are crazy but actually it's gotten much better and people are more respectful now. The majority of people now when I'm crossing the street actually let you pass and wave you through showing more patience.

When

 

[Uncle Wong]

Yes that is the best place to ride the park is in the park (Parque El Rosedal). As you can see from the photo it's perfect. Several people walking, jogging, riding bikes and roller blading in this area. It is a great area. When I moved here 23 years ago I never thought I'd ever see bike lanes in BA. Traffic drivers are crazy but actually it's gotten much better and people are more respectful now. The majority of people now when I'm crossing the street actually let you pass and wave you through showing more patience.

View attachment 8426

Great photo. I love walking through that park. I am going to try renting those bikes when I am in BA next month. Is there any trick to getting your App to work?

 

[old fart]

Yes that is the best place to ride the park is in the park (Parque El Rosedal). As you can see from the photo it's perfect. Several people walking, jogging, riding bikes and roller blading in this area. It is a great area. When I moved here 23 years ago I never thought I'd ever see bike lanes in BA. Traffic drivers are crazy but actually it's gotten much better and people are more respectful now. The majority of people now when I'm crossing the street actually let you pass and wave you through showing more patience.

View attachment 8426

The weather looks like it is very good. I hate January however. Too hot and humid for me.

 

[RN in BA]

I couldn't get it to work on my app either. I had to use a friend's account and I just paid her back in cash. A shame it doesn't work for tourists.

 

[Darksider415]

I tried it a couple of times over the winter, but the couple of times I did, the bikes were pretty badly in need of maintenance.

 

[Jeb Spencer]

I tried it a couple of times over the winter, but the couple of times I did, the bikes were pretty badly in need of maintenance.

I have a DNI and tried to use it several times. I try a few times a year and it never works. A pity. I gave up on it. I was going to buy a bike as my building has a room for owners to store bikes but all my friends that have a bike have gotten them stolen when they were out and about. Even if going in for a quick pit stop to eat it has gotten stolen they tell me so I just walk.