HOW TO RENT FREE CITY BIKES IN BUENOS AIRES
If you're in Buenos Aires, a really fun and easy way to explore the city is hopping on a bicycle. Relatively flat, there are a number of cycle lanes and if you're there over the summer months, traffic is considerably less as Argentinians head off for their summer holidays. A free bike is a perfect way to explore Buenos Aires for an afternoon.
If you're not afraid of a little bureaucracy (it's really easy, I promise!), here are five easy steps to signing up for the free city bike scheme.
STEP 1: Find your nearest Comuna
Staying in Villa Crespo, the nearest Comuna to me was Comuna 15. Located on Av. Córdoba 5690, Monday-Friday from 8am-3pm, you can head down there, take a little ticket and wait in line to sign up to the bike scheme.
To find your nearest Comuna, you can check out the government website here.
You can head to any Comuna in town, just be sure to check their opening times before you go.
STEP 2: Download the application BA Ecobici
At the reception, let them know you'd like to join the free bike scheme.
You'll be handed a ticket and then wait in line to be promptly called.
In the meantime, download the application BA Ecobici onto your phone.
STEP 3: Present your passport
The employee at the Comuna will ask to see your passport. You will be entitled access to the city bikes for as long as your visa is valid until.
For example, if you have a 90 day visa, your account will expire after the 90 days.
Ask the Comuna to provide a card and setup your account on the application. I tried setup the application myself but it's a little finicky.
STEP 4: Rent a bike
Once your account is setup, you'll be able to check the location of available bikes around Buenos Aires and use the card to release a bike at any of the bike stations.Find your nearest Comuna
You get one free hour on weekdays and two hours on weekends. For more time, just give the bike back and wait 5 minutes to take it out again.
Handy things to note:
As a tourist in Argentina with a foreign passport, you don't need a proof of address or a bill. Just your passport.
As they're free to use for everyone, there's not always a bike when and exactly where you want one. They may also be lacking in a few essential parts such as a seat, bike chain and well functioning breaks. Be sure to give your bike a thorough check before taking it out.
Bike incidents:
My account was disabled after the bike terminal failed to register I'd returned the bike.
A kind passerby, trying to help me explained that it happens often and to not worry about it. He was right as my account was promptly enabled again after the weekend. As it goes in Argentina... 'no pasa nada". Or 'nothing will happen, chill out".