Been doing the app unlock for years, but this morning at 34th & Madison there was a line maybe six deep. My app spun and spun, then said “dock unavailable.” A guy walks up, taps a little black fob on the dock, and pulls out before I even got the QR re-scanned. Is the fob actually faster or was my phone just having a moment? I always assumed the app was the move because it shows the bike level and if it’s electric, but now I’m wondering if I should go back to carrying a key.

Fob gang. It doesn’t need signal, doesn’t care if you’re in a dead zone under scaffolding, and it works through a little case. I keep it on my key ring. The app is good for seeing if a station is full before you get there, but for unlocking I’m not trying to balance a phone over a puddle. If you do use the app, hold the QR at a slight angle, not dead-on. At crowded docks, the fob is one tap and yank.

Wait, I’ve been using the app QR this whole time and half the time my camera won’t focus or the sticker is scratched. I didn’t even know Citi Bike had a physical key. Where do you get one? Is it free with the annual membership, or do you have to pay extra? I started riding this spring, so I’m still figuring out the little things. This might explain why people at the dock look so much calmer than me.

Yup, the key fob comes with an annual membership if you selected it, but a lot of people miss the envelope. You can request one in the app under “membership” I think. It’s not instant though. I lost mine twice and just used the app until the replacement showed. The app isn’t terrible, but it gets wonky around Midtown where the phone signal drops. If you’re near a valet, sometimes they can help you out too.

Okay, I have to admit I was tapping my phone on the dock like OMNY for the first week. A guy at Grand Army Plaza finally told me I was doing nothing. The sticker on the dock? I thought it was a barcode, not a QR, so I was aiming the wrong camera. The fob sounds way easier. Do the new electric docks unlock with the same fob, or is there a separate one for ebikes? I might switch to annual anyway.

Same fob works on classic and the new-style electric docks. No separate key needed. The ebike docks usually have a green stripe or the charging pins, but the fob reader is the same. The only thing I’d tell DykerNewbie is don’t tap the metal part in the dock with your phone; the dock doesn’t have contactless and will just make you late. For the app QR, use the normal camera unless the app prompts, don’t aim through Instagram.

Thank you all! I found the little envelope from my membership and the fob was in there. Tried it at Union Square yesterday and it unlocked an electric bike like magic. Now I’m worried about losing mine since I’m always dropping my keys. Has anyone tethered it to a belt loop or a bag? Is it safe to keep on a leash, or is that a mess when you’re pulling the bike out? I’m keeping the app as backup.

Get a retractable badge reel and clip it to a loop inside your crossbody. Let it snap back, don’t yank the dock. It looks like office nerd gear but works great. I’ve also used the app with the QR on the left side of newer docks, not the old sticker—less scratched. For backups, just keep the app signed in and don’t overthink it. If you lose the fob, request a replacement and ride with the app until it shows.