Yesterday, I bought the 24-hour day pass and was ready to go on my first Citibike through New York City. Here’s a play-by-play of my internal dialogue as I biked through the city: Ok, this is going to be FUN!…rules say, abide by traffic laws, stay off the sidewalk and ride with traffic. Easy…I can do this (riding through mostly residential areas) Hmm…maybe I should get a helmet…oh it’s okay, I won’t go far…oh, look there’s another biker, Hey there, cute biker-man…oh, he’s wearing headphones, wait, he’s wearing HEADPHONES!?!? how is he going to hear on-coming traffic…oh well…his problem, not mine…oh, there’s a bell on this bike…how cute…You can ring my beeeelllll, ring-my-bell…wait, pay attention to the road, no singing…oh look, another biker, can I wave…no, just ring the bell, no, that’s NOT what it’s for….oh, no, I have to turn onto the busy street…where there’s CARS and TRUCKS and BUSES?!?!?! NOOOOO, I don’t want to go….oh no, here I go….ahhhhhhh, please don’t hit me…Oh, look, there’s another biker and he’s wearing a GUITAR on his back!?!??! HOW THE HELL??!?!?! Wait, that’s a brilliant idea….no, it’s a terrible idea, are you crazy? OMG…he’s going the opposite direction of traffic, that’s NOT following the rules, dude…ok, just get me to Union Square, I’ll pop into Models and get a helmet…JUST GET ME TO UNION SQUARE!!!! (I get to Union Square, pop in, buy a helmet, take a selfie and grab a new bike). Alright…now who’s looking cute in a helmet and bicycle…haha…Let me try to get to my class at 38th street….Hmm maybe I shouldn’t be in flip-flops…oh, I’ll zip up sixth avenue…shouldn’t take me long….OMG!!! LOOK AT THIS TRAFFIC?!?!….oh, there’s a bunch of cyclists passing me…should I go faster? NOOOOOO!! let them pass you…OMG, is that car honking at me? NO, don’t look…pay attention to the road…Another Citibiker, without a helmet…Unbelievable….I should tell him about my helmet…maybe we’ll be friends…No, just get to your destination. Phew…I made it!!! Consensus: Citibike, not for the faint of heart!