Our best offer:

Lock in a year of Digiday+ for 35% less. Ends May 29.

SUBSCRIBE

Soil Your Pants? Citi Bike’s Got You Covered

When it comes to real-time marketing, it sometimes pays to get into someone’s pants.

Paull Young, the director of digital media at charity: water, was on his way to a Friday morning meeting last week, pedaling along on a Citi Bike when disaster struck:

Screen Shot 2013-12-09 at 4.38.35 PM

 

Thankfully, Young was unharmed, if a bit inconvenienced.

Screen Shot 2013-12-09 at 4.41.54 PM

 

Seeing Young’s distress call over Twitter, Citi Bike sprang into action with an assist from JCrew — and even included a cute hashtag.

Screen Shot 2013-12-09 at 4.44.40 PM

 

Young emerged from his meeting for a delightful surprise (albeit a bit late to save face for his appointment):

Screen Shot 2013-12-09 at 4.49.29 PM

 

Screen Shot 2013-12-09 at 4.53.03 PM

Happy to continue using Citi Bike as his method of transportation, Young took a trip to pick up some new slacks with his gift card.

Screen Shot 2013-12-09 at 4.55.53 PM

 

If only Citi Bike were as quick to help us out when we can find a cycle — or, for that matter, a free dock to park it in.

More in Marketing

Retail media strategies

TikTok Shop says sales from U.S. small businesses climbed 66% in 2025

U.S. small businesses on TikTok Shop increased sales by 66% in 2025 compared to the year before.

Walmart warns it may have to raise prices due to fuel costs

The possibility comes as higher fuel prices are already putting pressure on household budgets.

OpenAI gives ChatGPT ads a visual upgrade

OpenAI is building on its single ad format to include some new iterations that give advertisers more optionality over their appearances.