Despite mass transit systems providing the most easily-accessible and widely-used form of transportation, biking is slowly becoming a staple in every metropolitan center. Particularly in densely populated cities across the world, riding a bicycle has become less an option and more of a necessity. With benefits including allowing individuals to avoid cramming into stuffed, rush-hour subway commutes, not to mention contributing to a greener world by decreasing pollution, many businesses have now teamed with city councils to form bicycle share services where one can rent bikes from convenient, self-serve outdoor kiosks.

As the stress of having an expensive bike stolen by sticky-fingered pedestrians can often deter bike-enthusiasts from forking out hundreds to own, these share services offer the advantage of having access to a bike any time of day for short trips, without the hassle of needing to store or take it home. And besides, with the summer weather inspiring people to spend more time outdoors, these temporary bike rentals offer an inexpensive option for both tourists and locals to see the sights. With Europe starting the breakthrough with bike share services– popping up in Barcelona, Paris, and Brussels, now the U.S is following suit with shares in NYC and DC. Here is psychoPEDIA’s shop guide to bike shares from around the world:

Velib, Paris
Biking through Paris is a great way for travelers to discover treasures typically unnoticed by the standard tourist route. Easier to maneuver around the city’s narrow, cobble-stoned streets, Parisians can also cycle to avoid the stress of sandwich-style car parking and take Vélib– a year-old bike share service with 750 stations in Paris. Bikes can be picked up from a locked rack with payment of 1 Euro for each half-hour ride, and can be returned to any of the many stations around the city. Weekly and monthly passes are also available at the same rate for frequent cyclists. Although, don’t expect to cross border to Belgium or Germany on a joy ride, or you’ll set off the built-in alarm.

Bicing, Barcelona
Cycling through Barcelona is a convenient way to see the artistically-influenced history of the city’s landmarks like Antonio Gaudi’s La Sagrada Familia, Park Guell and La Pedrera. Although, you don’t have to be a tourist seeing the sights to use their bike-share, Bicing– as it’s also popular amongst the locals. Set up similarly to Paris’ Vélib, Bicing has self-serve stations all over the city, accepting only credit card payment. Each ride costs a mere 30 cents for every half an hour, with the only downside being that for extended trips, you need to renew your ride by picking up a new bike for each session.

Cyclocity, Brussels
The city best known for two things, beer and chocolate, now offers their Cyclocity bike-share with which you can use to explore and sample all of its sweet and savory offerings. You can make guilt-free visits to the breweries and chocolatiers knowing that cycling will burn off calories gained, although late-night inebriated rides aren’t recommended. The service is conveniently set up with stations all over downtown, known as the Pentagon. And as with other European bike-shares, the same rules apply. Although, Cyclocity has the lowest price of .05 Euros every half hour, or 10 Euros for an entire year subscription– with the only requirement that the user be over fourteen years old.

SmartBike DC
While DC’s Metro is famous for being one of the cleanest and most easily navigable metropolitan transit systems, the new SmartBikeDC service, created by Clear Channel (the same business behind Barcelona’s Bicing system), offers an above-ground way to experience the nation’s capital. As summer in DC packs a tight calendar of cultural festivities, free concerts, performances, and art exhibitions, you can fully enjoy the city’s outdoor events and scenery by subscribing to Smart Bike DC. With a one-year membership for only $40, you can rent bikes for up to three hours at a time.

Bike & Roll, Governor’s Island NYC
While a typical New York City lifestyle involves a heavy amount of walking, cycling is also a popular mode of transportation not just for its obvious health benefits, but also as an economical alternative to the increasing cost of daily subway or cab rides. Thankfully, between May and October each year, New Yorkers can enjoy biking worry-free at Governors Island, thanks to the new Bike & Roll share service established by the Governors Island Preservation and Education Corporation. Introducing the city’s first free bike-share program, open every weekend starting June 6th and ending October 4th, the service offers adult and children’s bikes Saturdays and Sundays from $5, and free on Fridays. To score a free hour-long bike ride, take the free ferry to Governors Island departing from Battery Maritime Building beginning at 10 am and available every half hour, at the corner of South and Whitehall Streets.