I’ve been a regular bikeshare user for years—even before moving to Washington, DC. During my first week here, I signed up for a Capital Bikeshare (CaBi) annual membership. I loved knowing that with every ride, I was “saving” money by making the most of my membership. So, when Bike Angels launched, I signed up immediately. As a Bike Angel, you get reward points for picking up bikes from crowded stations and dropping them off where they’re needed most. Earning rewards while helping balance the system was an easy sell for me.
Bike Angels is a great example of how small incentives can encourage choices that benefit both riders and the bikeshare system itself. Bikeshare demand is often imbalanced, with a predominant travel direction at certain times of day or on specific days of the week. This means some areas—like residential neighborhoods on weekday mornings—end up with empty stations, while others—like downtown at the start of the workday—become overloaded with bikes. Bike Angels helps address this operational challenge by rewarding everyday riders for rebalancing bikes in a way that’s cost-effective and fun.
Recently, I hit 500 Bike Angels points, a milestone that took a mix of strategy, commitment, and, to be honest, a bit of a “hack.” You earn one to four points for picking up a bike from a busy station and another one to four points for docking at a station that needs more bikes, meaning a single ride can be worth up to eight points. That said, I’ve never actually seen a station offering four points for a pickup. The real deal is the high-value stations, marked in pink on the CaBi app. Returning a bike there unlocks multipliers that make it much easier to rack up points.
Game On: Biking for Points
What makes Bike Angels fun? The gamification. What makes it really appealing? The rewards! I check the app regularly to see where I can earn points, sometimes changing my route or walking a little further to a station that offers a reward. And I’ll admit, there’s a thrill in docking my bike and receiving a points notification. It’s similar to the experience of finding a dollar on the sidewalk, since I can redeem points for e-bike credits or a membership extension.
Why I Run Between Bikeshare Stations (and why you might want to try it, too!)
Even though I bike to work, I rarely earn any points since my commute follows the predominant flow of riders. So, my favorite Bike Angels “hack” is to combine running and rebalancing bikes into a combo workout. On those days, I put on running shoes and jog between stations, rebalancing bikes along the way. It’s the ultimate win-win: I get my exercise in while stacking up points! Then, I redeem those points for e-bike credits, which are perfect for riding to work without breaking a sweat on a hot summer day.
From Points to Perks
I unlocked extended ride time on classic bikes at 250 points, which has been a game-changer. Since I don’t own a bike, CaBi is my go-to for longer rides. Having 60 minutes with a bike instead of 45 minutes makes exploring the DC region even easier. And then, of course, there’s the pin collection—one gifted at the 250-, 500-, 1,500-, 2,500-, and 5,000-point milestones—a small but fun perk. If you’re a Bike Angel, start collecting! They’re a great little reminder of all the bikes you’ve helped move to rebalance the system.
Give Bike Angels a Try!
For anyone who has a CaBi membership, Bike Angels is worth checking out. It’s an easy way to earn rewards, help keep the system running smoothly, and add a bit of adventure to your daily ride. You never know, you might find yourself jogging between stations in running shoes, fully embracing the art of bike rebalancing, too!