Things have gotten a lot better over the past year with the NYC bike share, especially with maintenance, but there's still a ways to go.
Generally speaking, if you're commuting, bike docks (where you pick up and drop off) are empty when you want a bike and full when you want to return one.
The official Citibike app is also terrible, and the data Citibike makes available is often inaccurate (shows bikes or open slots when there aren't any). The app "Bike NYC" is a good (free) alternative, but obviously limited by data quality.
A lot of people have the situational acumen to know when seeming to admit flat ignorance is a bad idea.
If you're not sure about a particular fact, make an educated guess if you can or relate what you can from memory, and say, "I'll have to check on that and get back to you," then actually check on it and get back to your questioner or the audience later.
You probably shouldn't, as they are distinct terms. A futures contract obliges you to make the transaction on the specified transaction date, whereas an option gives you the option to do so.