List of bicycle-sharing systems

Esztergom

The EBI in Esztergom, Hungary

The first public bicycle sharing service in Hungary was implemented in Esztergom on 20 September 2013. The Esztergom Bicycle or EBI was developed by Neuzer, a local bicycle manufacturing company.^[221] Since September 2016, BKK and MOL operates BuBi in Budapest with over 100 stations. The system operates with 93 bikes and 9 docking stations.^[222]

Szeged

The country's second bike sharing system in Szeged is CityBike Szeged. It has been in operation since 1 October 2013.^[223][224] The BuBi system, with 76 docks and 1,100 bicycles, opened in 2014 in Budapest and now operates with 112 docks and 1,286 bicycles.^[225]

Győr

GyőrBike opened on 7 September 2015 in Győr with 23 docks and 180 bicycles.^[226]

Kaposvár

The Kaposvári Tekergő opened on 27 October 2015 in Kaposvár with 4 docking stations, 26 e-bikes and 6 e-rollers.^[172]

Budapest

BuBi in Budapest, Hungary

BKK and MOL operate the biggest bicycle sharing system in Budapest, Hungary, with over 100 stations in the city.^[227]

England

In 1993, a Green Bike Scheme bike sharing programme was initiated in Cambridge, United Kingdom, using a fleet of some 300 bicycles. The overwhelming majority of the fleet were stolen or missing within a year of the programme's introduction, and the Green Bike Scheme was abandoned.^[268]

In an attempt to overcome losses from theft, the next innovation adopted by bike sharing programmes was the use of so-called 'smart technology'. One of the first 'smart bike' programmes was the Grippa™ bike storage rack system used in Portsmouth's Bikeabout scheme.^{[269][270][237]} The Bikeabout scheme was launched in October 1995 by the University of Portsmouth, UK as part of its Green Transport Plan in an effort to cut car travel by staff and students between campus sites.^[270] Funded in part by the EU's ENTRANCE^[271] programme, the Bikeabout scheme was a "smart card" fully automated system.^{[270][237][272]} For a small fee, users were issued 'smart cards' with magnetic stripes to be swiped through an electronic card reader at a covered 'bike store' kiosk, unlocking the bike from its storage rack.^[270] CCTV camera surveillance was installed at all bike stations in an effort to limit vandalism.^[270] Upon arriving at the destination station, the smart card was used to open a cycle rack and record the bike's safe return.^[270] A charge was automatically registered on the user's card if the bike was returned with damage or if the time exceeded the three-hour maximum.^[270] Implemented with an original budget of approximately £200,000, the Portsmouth Bikeabout scheme was never very successful in terms of rider usage,^{[lower-alpha 1]} in part due to the limited number of bike kiosks and hours of operation.^[270][272] Seasonal weather restrictions and concerns over unjustified charges for bike damage also imposed barriers to usage.^[270] The Bikeabout program was discontinued by the University in 1998 in favour of expanded minibus service; the total costs of the Bikeabout programme were never disclosed.^[273][274] Following the discontinuation of the University of Portsmouth's Bikeabout programme in 1998^[275] (it had been launched in 1996),^[276][277] the introduction of new bicycle share systems proceeded more slowly in the United Kingdom than in the rest of Europe. With sponsorship from first Barclays and later Santander, Transport for London launched a cycle hire scheme in London, where hire under 30 minutes is free from special bicycle stands across the city, after a daily, monthly or annual charge has been paid.^[278]

Barclays Cycle Hire, London, UK started in 2010

Outside of London (see below), the largest is the hire-a-bike operation in Blackpool, operated by Hourbike,^[279] with 60 stations and 500 bikes in the scheme. This scheme uses both RFID membership cards and instant point-of-sale memberships to cater for both residential users and the very many visitors that go to the resort every year. Hourbike also has schemes in Lincoln, Reading, Liverpool, Nottingham and Southport in England as well as Dumfries, Scotland.

In May 2017, Bristol became the first European city to have a hire-a-bike system operated by YoBike.^[280][281]

Some bike-sharing schemes use mobile phone apps to reserve or sign out bikes. In the UK, OYBike delivered small-scale operations at 2 universities, 3 business parks, 3 London boroughs, and a private hotel chain in London until 2011. Like Munich's Call-a-Bike, OYBike used mobile phone technology to log use and charge for hires and can set up hire points in as little as 10 minutes.^[282]

Brompton Bike Hire has 40 docks across 25 major locations in the UK, starting at £2.50 for 24 hours and is using the same hardware as BIXI Montréal, members can rent a folding Brompton bike. The locations of the docks include London, Birmingham, Manchester, Bristol, Reading, Southampton and Oxford.^[283]

in 2007,^[284] (another source gives early 2008) London mayor Ken Livingstone promised that an extensive bicycle sharing system modelled on the Paris Vélib' system would be introduced in London during his final term in office.^[285] The scheme was not completed until Boris Johnson was in office, and consequently became known informally as "Boris Bikes".^[286] The system, provided by PBSC Urban Solutions, was initially sponsored by Barclays Bank and subsequently by Santander UK, and is now known as Santander Cycles.

In 2018 the Singaporean-based company oBike launched in London, with 400 dockless bikes and is anticipated to soon spread to other cities in the UK.^[287][288] In the UK, oBike's bike hire is 50p for 30 minutes, with a £49 deposit being required.^[287][289]

Northern Ireland

Belfast launched a public bike hire scheme on 27 April 2015. The scheme was sponsored by Coca-Cola HBC Northern Ireland and is called Coca-Cola Zero Belfast Bikes. The Department for Regional Development (DRD) provided initial capital funding for the scheme as part of their Active Travel Demonstration Projects budget. NSL is looking after the daily operation of the scheme, while Nextbike is responsible for the bikes.^[290] There are 33 docking stations with options for expansion depending on securing additional resources and council approval.^[291][292]

Scotland

Recent expansions to cities in Scotland piggy-backing on the Commonwealth Games 2014 in Glasgow included Glasgow and Stirling.^{[293][294][295]} Stirling's scheme was named "Pedalforth" following a competition in the community and comprises 100 bikes and 11 stations. Glasgow provided 400 bikes across 31 stations in 2014.^[296] A system operated by JCDecaux is proposed for Edinburgh.^[297]

Wales

Nextbike started a public bike hire scheme operating in Cardiff on 26 March 2018, with five docking stations and 50 bicycles.^[298] The original plan was to have the public bike hire scheme operating in Cardiff by Autumn 2017.^[299] The plan is still to reach 500 cycles over 50 docking stations in the city.^[298] It came 6 years after OYBike ended a smaller scheme (with 10 stations) following the council's withdrawal of funding in 2011.^[299]

Montréal, QC

BIXI Montreal, Quebec, Canada

The first widely deployed bicycle sharing system was BIXI Montréal. BIXI Montréal launched in 2009.^[300] It has since expanded to 6200 bicycles at 540 stations,^[301] making it by far the largest bicycle sharing system in Canada. Although initial program costs were $15 million for planning and implementation of the Bixi project, subsequent additional costs incurred in expanding the program have driven costs upwards of $23 million.^{[302][303][304]} Started in May 2009, it has expanded to over 5000 bicycles at 450 stations.^[305] The system was developed by PBSC Urban Solutions along with a consortium of vendors. The BIXI technology was then used in numerous bike sharing systems in North America, Europe and Australia. The Montreal system was ranked by Time Magazine as the 19th best invention of 2008.^[306]

Hamilton, ON

Sobi Hamilton launched in March 2015 with 750 bicycles at over 100 stations.^[307]

Ottawa, ON

The Bixi system was implemented in June 2009 in Ottawa/Gatineau as Capital Bixi. Capital Bixi launched in 2009 as a pilot program with 100 bicycles and 10 stations. In 2012, it was expanded to 250 bicycles and 25 stations. Its owner, the NCC, sold it to US-based CycleHop in April 2014 when its operator, Montreal-based Public Bike System Company, filed for bankruptcy protection in January 2014.^[308][309] CycleHop renamed the service to VeloGo and replaced the fleet with all-new 'smart' bicycles, where intelligence (i.e. GPS tracking, etc.) is built into each bicycle, instead of relying on base stations, as with Bixi system. VeloGo began its service in the summer of 2015.^[310]

Toronto, ON

From 2001 to 2006, BikeShare, operated by the Community Bicycle Network (CBN) in Toronto, was for a time the most popular community bicycle sharing program in North America. BikeShare was intended to overcome some of the theft issues by requiring yearly memberships to sign out any of the 150 refurbished yellow bikes locked up at 16 hubs throughout central Toronto. At its height, over 400 members could sign out a bike from any hub for up to three days. The hubs were located at stores, cafes and community centres where the staff would volunteer their time to sign bikes out and in.^[311] Despite steadily increasing administrative, implementation, and maintenance costs, CBN could only charge users around 20 percent of actual costs, as users were unlikely to spend more than $50 per year for a membership. Without sufficient funds in the form of private and government grants, CBN was forced to discontinue BikeShare in 2006.^[312]

Bixi Toronto launched in 2011 with 800 bicycles at 80 stations.^[313] In 2013, when Public Bike System Company acknowledged that it could not repay its $3.9 million loan to the city, the system was taken over by the Toronto Parking Authority and renamed Bike Share Toronto.^[314] In 2016, the city of Toronto signed a contract with PBSC to expand their system. Its network hosts 2,750 bicycles spread among 270 stations.^[315][316] The Bixi system was introduced in Toronto in May 2011 as Bixi Toronto.

Vancouver

In 2016, Vancouver installed a bike sharing system, Mobi (bike share), operated by CycleHop Corp.^[317]

Mobi (bike share) launched in July 2016 with 1500 bicycles at 150 stations.^[318]

Victoria

In September 2017 a dockless bike share became available in the city of Victoria, starting with 150 bicycles.^[191] The dockless bike share is operated by U-Bicycle.

Edmonton

From 2005 to 2008, a largely unregulated bike sharing program was operated by the Peoples' Pedal organisation in Edmonton, Alberta. The program suffered from high theft and vandalism rates, with 95% of the bikes that had been placed into service stolen or missing by 2008.^[319]

Mexico City

In February 2010, the government of Mexico City inaugurated a new bicycle sharing network called EcoBici.^[323] With distinctive red and white liveried bicycles, the network as of February 2015 consists of 444 stations with 6,500 bicycles.^[324] With more than 240,000 registered users, it has been argued that Ecobici is the largest bicycle-sharing program in North America.^[325] The system is run by a private company, Clear Channel México, but^[326] funded by the government with an initial investment of 75 million pesos. Users of the system are required to purchase an RFID card at a cost of 400 pesos which will provide them with access to the bicycles for one year. Use of a bicycle is free for the first 45 minutes; extra charges are applied for use beyond this time limit.

Guadalajara

In December 2014, the government of the State of Jalisco implemented a bicycle sharing system called MiBici with 86 stations and 860 bicycles.^[327] As of October 2016, it has 236 stations with 2 thousand bicycles.^[328] This system uses the technology and the hardware of PBSC.^[329]

Toluca

In November 2015, the Municipality of Toluca inaugurated a bicycle sharing system called Huitzi with 26 stations and 300 bicycles, using PBSC as a provider.^[330][331]

Pachuca

In February 2016, the Municipality of Pachuca inaugurated a bicycle sharing system called Bici Capital with 6 stations and 140 bicycles.^[332]

Puebla

From January 2017, the Puebla will have a system called Bici Puebla with 139 stations and 2,100 bicycles.^[333]

Bikes Belong (Dem/Rep Conventions), 2008

In 2007, Bikes Belong (now known as PeopleForBikes), an advocacy group financed by major bicycle manufacturers worked with city officials, local advocates, and the healthcare firm Humana to bring bikesharing to the Republican and Democratic 2008 conventions. Called "Freewheelin!" the program offered 1,000 bicycles at 12 stations throughout the downtowns of the host cities, Denver and Minneapolis/St. Paul, over the five days of each convention. Bikes Belong's stated goal was to provide a proof-of-concept that large-scale bicycle sharing that was exploding in European cities could work in U.S. cities and provide a valuable addition to the transportation mix. The program was popular among conventioneers, and helped the city of Denver to create a narrative around the "green" attributes of the convention. Both Denver and Minneapolis successfully pursued permanent bikesharing systems, with Denver B-cycle launching on 22 April 2010 as the first of its scale in the U.S., followed by Minneapolis' NiceRide system launching on 10 June 2010.^[341]

Aspen/Basalt, CO

The system was launched in 2013 with 16 stations and 200 bikes, with provider PBSC.^[342][343]

Albany, NY

In Fall of 2012, the University at Albany (SUNY) launched a campus bike share which allows students, faculty and staff to take out bike from one of three residential hall locations on campus. With over 30 bikes in the program and still growing the program experienced rapid growth with 381 sign out in Fall 2013 and 1620 sign outs in Fall 2014. The University is currently looking to expand its program by adding more bikes and locations.^[344]

Alpharetta, GA

Alpharetta offers a bike share program operated by Zagster. Trips under 3 hours are free, and annual memberships are $20. Bikes can be rented from 4 stations throughout Alpharetta.^[345] Bikes can be taken anywhere, including Alpharetta's Big Creek Greenway – a 12 foot wide concrete path that stretches 8 scenic miles terminating in Big Creek park.^[346]

Atlanta, GA

In June 2016, Relay Bike Share launched as the bike share system for the City of Atlanta. The program—operated by Cyclehop, LLC and Social Bicycles, LLC—launched with 100 bicycles at 10 stations throughout the downtown area. The program aims to offer 500 bicycles across the city by the end of 2016.^[347]

Austin, TX

In December 2013, Austin B-cycle launched as the bike share system for the City of Austin with 11 stations.^[348] It is operated as a public-private partnership between the City of Austin and the non-profit Bike Share of Austin. The current system operates 46 bike share stations 24/7 in the downtown Austin area. Austin B-cycle set a national bike share record for the most checkouts per bicycle in a single day, 10.1 checkouts per bike, on 14 March 2015 during the SXSW festival.^[349]

Baltimore, MD

In May 2014, over 40 bicycles were stolen from Baltimore Recreation and Parks department's bike-share program. The bikes were stolen during the city's Ride Around Reservoir program in Druid Hill Park. The bikes were set up to be lent out when a group of youths took them. The cost of replacing the stolen bikes is devastating to the program, which operates completely on donations.^[350][351]

Birmingham, AL

Birmingham launched Zyp Bikeshare in October, 2015. Annual memberships are $75, with monthly passes for $20, 3-day passes for $12, and daily passes for $6.^[352] Zyp also offers discounted annual memberships to individuals who qualify. Zyp operates 400 bikes at 40 kiosks. Bikes can be ridden anywhere in the downtown Birmingham area. Once a bike is unlocked, riders have 45 minutes to ride before incurring additional fees if they have not docked at another station. As well as traditional bikes, Zyp was the first bikeshare in North America to have electric pedal-assist bikes to help riders cover distances or mount hills faster.^[353]

Boston, MA

In 2007, Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino and Director of Bicycle Programs, Nicole Freedman, decided to bring bike sharing to the Boston area. The Metropolitan Area Planning Council, the regional planning agency for the metro-Boston region of 101 cities and towns, joined the effort. Brookline, Cambridge, and Somerville also participated.

Boston Hubway bike

On 28 July 2011, Boston launched its 60-station, 600-bike Hubway system, sponsored by the shoe manufacturer New Balance and funded in part by a $3 million grant from the Federal Transit Administration. The contract to operate was awarded to Alta Bicycle Share and the equipment provider was PBSC Urban Solutions. Bicycle-sharing was greeted with a mix of excitement and skepticism. In its first two and a half months, Hubway recorded 100,000 station-to-station rides. After recording 140,000 trips in four months, Boston's European-style bicycle-sharing system expanded outside city limits, planting stations across Cambridge, Somerville, and Brookline. Hubway has over 100 stations throughout the Greater Boston area.

In spring of 2018 Motivate the operator of Hubway changed sponsors from Hubway to the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association and officially changed the name of the bike share program to Blue Bikes Boston.^[354]

Boulder, CO

Solar powered Boulder B-cycle station with double sided docks. The system was launched in April 2010.

In May 2011, Boulder, Colorado launched a bicycle sharing system, Boulder B-Cycle, with 100 bicycles and 15 stations. This system, like many in northern latitude cities, closes down during winter months to help preserve the life of the equipment.^[355]

Broward County, FL

Broward B-Cycle launched in December 2011 as the country's first county-wide bike share program, with 200 bikes and 20 stations located in several cities within Broward County, including Fort Lauderdale. This system was funded through a public-private partnership with the Florida Department of Transportation providing a $311,000 grant through Broward County, and B-Cycle's sponsors providing the remainder of the initial capital and operating costs.^[356]

Buffalo, NY

Reddy Bikeshare launched in 2016 with 200 bicycles at 35 stations around the city.^[357]

Charleston, SC

In August 2013, the College of Charleston's Office of Sustainability began a bike sharing program.^[358] This program's 16 bicycles are free to use for all full-time students, faculty, and staff members.^[359]

Charlotte, NC

A system of B-Cycle stands are installed downtown and a few places nearby.^[106]

Chattanooga, TN

In July 2012, the Bike Chattanooga Bicycle Transit System launched in Chattanooga, Tennessee with 300 bikes and 28 solar-powered stations by PBSC.^[360] It was the first large scale bicycle transit system in the Southeast. The system has expanded to 33 stations and had recorded over 78,000 trips by its second anniversary.^[361]

Chicago, IL

Launched in 2013, Divvy is the bike sharing program for Chicago and the largest in North America.

On 28 June 2013, Chicago launched Divvy, a bike share system with 750 bikes at 75 stations.^[362] As of December 2016, the system operates over 5800 bikes at 580 stations,^[363] using both PBSC's hardware and software.^[364]