Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Finally: Citi Bike Users Can Rent Sanitized Helmets
By
Lauren Evans
Published Jul 25, 2013
Modified Jul 25, 2013
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Lauren Evans
Published Jul 25, 2013
Modified Jul 25, 2013
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
How had someone not thought of this before? Bike rental company Bike and Roll NYC today began renting sanitized helmets to Citi Bike users and clumsy pedestrians for $3 per day and $15 per week.
Bike and Roll NYC President Chris Wogas said helmets have always been included with the company's cycle rentals, but today marks the first time they'll be available a la carte. While the launch of Citi Bike was certainly a contributing factor in the decision to make helmets available, Wogas said anyone can rent them for whatever purpose, as long as customers are down to sign a waiver that lets the company track the helmets' whereabouts.
"We just saw a need in the marketplace," he said.
The helmets are sporty-looking Trek Bontragers, and will be thoroughly sanitized with Lysol and all-purpose cleaner after each use. They'll also be inspected for cracks by Bike and Roll staff, since Wogas said helmets don't last forever—like skulls, they weaken with impact, meaning even dropping them on the concrete can diminish their protective powers.
"We probably replace 80 percent of our helmets over a 12 month period," he said.
Some helmets will undoubtedly require more than a good scrub down before they're ready to return to the road. Wogas has plenty of bizarre tales of helmets being returned with mysterious foodstuffs—we hope—adhered to the inside.
"Somebody could have been eating an ice cream cone, if someone is drinking a soda, it can get spilled in the helmet," he said. "Some helmets have come back with such bad ice cream spills in the foam that we've had to throw them out," he said. [Editor's note: That probably wasn't ice cream.] "We're on the side of 'would we wear it?'"
Helmets will be available at ten locations around the city, including near Brooklyn Bridge Park, Central Park, Riverside Park, East River Park, Battery Park and Pier 84.
Tagged
citi bike
helmets
original
Lauren Evans
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
NYPD detective forced to retire after false statements in Brooklyn investigation
Det. Patrick Craig admitted giving false information to a prosecutor and another detective before police obtained a search warrant.
By
Charles Lane
Published Oct 5, 2026 at 3:10 p.m. ET
Mamdani faces pressure to forge ahead with plan to fix polluting South Bronx market
“We cannot let this fail,” Comptroller Mark Levine said of the Hunts Point Produce Market plan.
By
Elizabeth Kim
News
Mamdani faces pressure to forge ahead with plan to fix polluting South Bronx market
“We cannot let this fail,” Comptroller Mark Levine said of the Hunts Point Produce Market plan.
By
Elizabeth Kim
Dominican man who shot border patrol officer in NYC sentenced to 15 years in prison
By
Samantha Max
NYC extends program offering late-night soccer games at 5 parks
By
Liam Quigley
Two Legionnaires’ disease cases appear at a Queens housing complex. Here’s what we know.
By
Joe Hong
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .