BCycle

Bicycle sharing company in the United States

BCycle

Formerly| Freewheelin[1]
Company type| Private
Founded| 2008; 17 years ago (2008)
Headquarters|

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania[2]

United States

Number of locations

| 34 systems [1]

Area served

| United States[1]

Key people

| Kristin Gavin (CEO, Bicycle Transit Systems)
Services| Bicycle-sharing system
Website| bcycle.com

BCycle is a public bicycle sharing company owned by Bicycle Transit Systems and is based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States.[2] It has 34 local systems operating in cities across the United States. However, in several cities it operates under a name other than BCycle (i.e., Indego Bike Share, Red Bike, GREENbike, etc.)[3][1]

## Description

[edit]

The BCycle system consists of bicycles and solar-powered stations positioned throughout a city or region. The result is a slight variation in the system, depending on the city of operation. Such variations can include differences in pricing and operating under a name other than BCycle. Notwithstanding, even though they may operate under different names, their stations will still include the logo with a circled "B" (but perhaps with a different color outer circle). Variations are also affected by the primary sponsors of the local system.

BCycle's 2.0 bike share system in front of the Trek Bicycle headquarters in Waterloo, Wisconsin. Solar powered Boulder B-cycle station with double sided docks.

Users of the system can purchase annual memberships or just a day or week pass. The system is intended for short trips rather than using an automobile or bike rentals.[4] They can then check out and return bikes at any station in their city.[5] Depending on the local system and type of membership or pass, users can keep the bicycles for 30–60 minutes without any additional charge for an unlimited number of times. Bicycles can be used longer for a nominal hourly assessment. However, if a bicycle is returned to any station, it can usually be immediately checked back out for an additional 30-60 free minutes.[6][7] Another variation is dates and hours of operations. Some systems do not operate at night and some do not operate during the winter months. Notwithstanding the variations, annual memberships are recognized in most BCycle cities in a reciprocity program called "B-connected".[8] The cost of annual memberships vary from US$50 to US$80.

The bicycles used by BCycle were designed specifically for bike sharing by Trek Bicycle.[9]

## History

[edit]

In 2007, the founding partners of BCycle, Trek and health care insurance company Humana, launched their bike sharing venture with the nation's largest ever temporary bike sharing program at the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado. Called Freewheelin, this program made 1,000 bikes available to the delegates at both the Democratic and Republican National Conventions.[10][11] The programs proved so successful that the Democratic host committee selected bike sharing as a special legacy program to receive a donation to launch the country's first smart bike sharing system.

Following the Democratic National Convention, Trek, Humana and advertising agency Crispin Porter + Bogusky formed B-Cycle, LLC to develop a technologically and visually appealing bike share system. The joint venture worked with a non-profit created to operate the system, Denver Bike Sharing, operating as Denver B-cycle, to launch with 500 bikes and 40 stations in Denver on Earth Day, April 22, 2010.[12][13][14] In 2018, the eighth year of Denver B-cycle, it received a US$400,000 subsidy from the City of Denver government.[15]

In October 2024, BCycle was acquired by Bicycle Transit Systems, making it the only vertically integrated docked bike share company in North America.[16]

## Controversy and competition

[edit]

### Denver, Colorado

[edit]

In 2018, controversy emerged on the Denver City Council, with criticism that "B-cycle is mainly in areas where it's white and wealthy and not in neighborhoods of color and working-class neighborhoods where transit is a need."[15] Substantial competition to dockable bicycle transportation has emerged from unsubsidized "[d]ockless bike and scooter companies have flocked to Denver," including Jump bicycles and Lime scooters.[15]

In mid-November 2019, the city announced the end of the B-cycle operation, with 700 bikes and all stations to be removed by the end of January 2020.[17][18][19]

## Locations

[edit]

A 15 dock, solar powered station in Denver Madison BCycle station Philly Indego Bikeshare

As of January 2024, B-cycle has bicycle sharing systems in the following areas:[3][20]

### United States

[edit]

* Austin, Texas
* Aventura, Florida
* Bentonville, Arkansas
* Bismarck, North Dakota
* Boulder, Colorado
* Charlotte, North Carolina
* Cincinnati, Ohio (Operates under the name Red Bike)
* Clarksville, Tennessee
* Des Moines, Iowa
* El Paso, Texas
* Encinitas, California
* Fort Worth, Texas (Operates under the name Fort Worth Bike Sharing)
* Fort Lauderdale, Florida
* Greenville, South Carolina
* Houston, Texas
* Indianapolis, Indiana (Operates under the name Indiana Pacers Bikeshare)
* Jackson County, Michigan
* Las Vegas, Nevada (Operates under the name RTC Bike Share)
* Lincoln, Nebraska (Operates under the name BikeLNK)
* Los Angeles, California (Operates under the name Metro Bike Share)
* Madison, Wisconsin
* Memphis, Tennessee (Operates under the name Explore Bike Share)
* Milwaukee, Wisconsin (Operates under the name Bublr Bikes)
* Nashville, Tennessee
* Omaha, Nebraska (Operates under the name Heartland Bike Share)
* Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Operates under the name Indego)
* Redding, California
* Salt Lake City, Utah (Operates under the name GREENbike)
* San Antonio, Texas (Operates under the name SWell Cycle)
* Santa Barbara, California
* Santa Cruz, California
* Truckee, California
* Valentine, Nebraska
* Weslaco, Texas

## See also

[edit]

* Bicycle-sharing system
* Utility cycling - Short-term hire schemes
* Motivate (New York / Boston / Washington DC / San Francisco / Chicago / Toronto / Seattle / Melbourne)
* Vélo'v (Lyon, France)
* Vélib' (Paris, France)
* Bicing (Barcelona, Spain)
* Santander Cycles (London's BIXI-based system)
* PBSC Urban Solutions
* Zagster

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d "B cycle: leadership and innovation in bike sharing (media kit)". bcycle.com. B-Cycle. Feb 2014. p. 2\. Archived from the original on June 26, 2014. Retrieved 19 Aug 2014.
2. ^ a b "Contact B-cycle". bcycle.com. B-Cycle. Retrieved 16 Apr 2015.
3. ^ a b "B cycle cities". bcycle.com. B-Cycle. Feb 2014. Retrieved 19 Aug 2014.
4. ^ Sumner, Jason (8 Mar 2011). "Bikes meant for sharing, B-Cycle and BIXI: Urban PressCamp highlights equipment behind North America's public bike shares". bikeradar.com. Retrieved 19 Aug 2014.
5. ^ Jentzen, Aaron (3 Jul 2011). "Users fitting bike share into their lifestyles". San Antonio Express-News. San Antonio: Hearst Corporation. Retrieved 19 Aug 2014.
6. ^ "GREENbike: SLC Bike Share". greenbikeslc.org. B Cycle. Retrieved 19 Aug 2014.
7. ^ "GREENbike FAQs". greenbikeslc.org. B Cycle. Archived from the original on January 11, 2014. Retrieved 19 Aug 2014. "Can I check out a bike immediately after returning a bike? Yes."
8. ^ Graham Richard, Michael (18 Mar 2013). "B-Cycle bike-sharing membership now works in 15 U.S. cities". treehugger.com. MNN Holding Company, LLC. Retrieved 19 Aug 2014.
9. ^ "B cycle: leadership and innovation in bike sharing (media kit)". bcycle.com. B-Cycle. Feb 2014. p. 4\. Archived from the original on June 26, 2014. Retrieved 19 Aug 2014.
10. ^ Post, Jenel Stelton-Holtmeier | The Denver (2008-05-15). "DNC offers chance to go free-wheelin'". The Denver Post. Retrieved 2020-01-03.
11. ^ "Freewheelin at the Democratic National Convention: "What a great ride!" | Humana Healthcare". press.humana.com. 2008-08-29. Retrieved 2020-01-03.
12. ^ Profis, Sharon (2010-04-21). "B-cycle bike sharing to be the largest in U.S." CNET. Retrieved 2020-01-03.
13. ^ "Frequently Asked Questions". denverbikesharing.org. Retrieved 19 Aug 2014.
14. ^ Huang, James (23 Apr 2010). "First big US bike share scheme debuts in Denver, Colorado: B-Cycle starts with 400 bicycles across 40 stations". bikeradar.com. Retrieved 19 Aug 2014.
15. ^ a b c Navarro, Natalia V. (31 August 2018). "As Bikes And Scooters Put Their Stamp On Denver, B-Cycle Talks Expansion, Subsidies". Colorado Public Radio. Retrieved 4 October 2018.
16. ^ Gavin, Kristin. "Gearing up for Growth". Bicycle Transit Systems.
17. ^ "Denver B-cycle to end operations". KUSA. 2019-11-21. Retrieved 2020-01-03.
18. ^ Hern, Elizabeth; Ehern, Ez | (2019-11-21). "Denver B-cycle to end, city may thin herd of scooter operators as it tightens regulation of "micromobility" services". The Denver Post. Retrieved 2020-01-03.
19. ^ Bouchard, Jay (2019-11-21). "B-Cycle in Denver Will Cease Operations at the End of January". 5280. Retrieved 2020-01-03.
20. ^ "Find a City".

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to B-cycle.

* B-cycle (official website)

* v
* t
* e

Bicycle-sharing systems

List of bicycle-sharing systems

Asia|

| East Asia|

* Anywheel (Singapore)
* CityBike (Kaohsiung, Taiwan)
* Ddareungi (Seoul, South Korea)
* Gobee.bike (Hong Kong)
* Hoba Bike (Hong Kong)
* Ketch' Up Bike (Hong Kong)
* Hangzhou Public Bicycle (Hangzhou, China)
* LinkBike (George Town, Penang, Malaysia)
* LocoBike (Hong Kong)
* Mobike (China and Singapore)
* Moov Technology (Singapore)
* SG Bike (Singapore)
* YouBike (Taiwan and China)

|

South Asia|

* JoBike (Bangladesh)
* Tiruchirappalli Bicycle Share (India)

West Asia|

* Antbis (Antalya)
* Bdood (Tehran, Shiraz)
* Bisim (İzmir)
* Cyacle Bikeshare (Abu Dhabi)
* Esbis (Eskişehir)
* İsbike (Istanbul)
* Kaybis (Kayseri)
* Kobis (Kocaeli)
* Sambis (Samsun)
* Tel-O-Fun (Tel Aviv)

Central Asia|

* Astana Bike (Astana, Kazakhstan)

Europe|

* in multiple countries: nextbike
* Donkey Republic
* Lime
* Bolt
* Rekola (Czechia, Slovakia and Estonia)

* countrywide: Call a Bike (Germany)
* OV-fiets (Netherlands)
* Beryl Bikes (United Kingdom)

* in one city: Aarhus City Bikes
* Belfast Bikes
* BicikeLJ (Ljubljana)
* BiciMAD (Madrid)
* Bicimia (Brescia)
* Bicing (Barcelona)
* BikeMi (Milan)
* BuBi (Budapest)
* Bycyklen (Copenhagen)
* Dublinbikes
* Helsinki City Bikes
* Forest (bike share) (London)
* İsbike (Istanbul)
* Oslo Bysykkel
* Santander Cycles (London)
* Sevici (Seville)
* Stockholm City Bikes
* Styr & Ställ (Gothenburg)
* Valenbisi (Valencia)
* Vélib' Métropole (Paris region)
* Vélivert (Saint-Étienne)
* Vélo'v (Lyon)
* Velobike (Moscow)
* Vélopop' (Avignon)
* Veturilo (Warsaw)
* Villo! (Brussels)

North America|

| Canada|

* Bike Share Toronto
* BIXI Montréal
* VeloGo (Ottawa)
* Mobi (Vancouver)
* Hamilton Bike Share

|

Mexico|

* EcoBici (Mexico City)
* Mi Bici (Guadalajara)

United States|

* B-Cycle: Austin B-Cycle
* Aventura B-Cycle
* Battle Creek B-Cycle
* Bike Chattanooga
* Boulder B-Cycle
* Broward B-Cycle
* Bublr Bikes (Milwaukee)
* Charlotte B-Cycle
* Columbia County B-Cycle
* Denver B-Cycle
* Des Moines B-Cycle
* Fort Worth B-Cycle
* Great Rides B-Cycle (Fargo)
* GREENbike (Salt Lake City)
* Greenville B-Cycle
* Heartland B-Cycle (Omaha)
* Indego (Philadelphia)
* Indiana Pacers Bikeshare (Indianapolis)
* Kansas City B-Cycle
* Link Dayton Bike Share
* Madison B-Cycle
* Metro Bike Share (Los Angeles)
* Nashville B-Cycle
* Rapid City B-Cycle
* Red Bike (Cincinnati)
* Roseburg B-Cycle
* San Antonio B-Cycle
* Spartanburg B-Cycle

* others: ArborBike (Ann Arbor)
* Arcata Bike Library (Arcata)
* Bay Wheels (San Francisco Bay Area)
* BICI Bike Share (Albuquerque)
* Biketown (Portland)
* Bluebikes (Boston)
* Boise GreenBike
* Capital Bikeshare (Washington, D.C.)
* CAT Bike (Savannah)
* Citi Bike (New York City; Jersey City)
* CoGo Bike Share (Columbus)
* Citi Bike Miami
* Divvy (Chicago)
* Healthy Ride (Pittsburgh)
* Lime
* Relay Bike Share (Atlanta)
* Richmond Bikeshare
* WE-cycle (Aspen)

Oceania|

* Airbike
* Lime (Australia)

South America|

* Bike Rio (Rio de Janeiro)
* Lime (Santiago de Chile)
* EcoBici (Buenos Aires)

Companies|

* BCycle
* Bolt
* Deutsche Bahn
* Donkey Republic
* JCDecaux
* Lime
* Motivate
* Nederlandse Spoorwegen
* Nextbike
* Lyft Urban Solutions
* Rekola
* Scoot Networks
* Serco
* Fifteen
* Spin

Defunct|

* 8D Technologies
* Baltimore Bike Share
* Bluegogo
* BIP! Perpignan
* CityCycle (Brisbane)
* Copenhagen City Bikes
* Helsinki City Bikes (1st generation)
* Houston Bcycle
* Jump Bikes
* Melbourne Bike Share
* Nice Ride Minnesota (Minneapolis-Saint Paul)
* oBike
* ofo (China)
* Ola Pedal
* OYBike (Reading and Farnborough)
* Pronto Cycle Share
* Santander Cycles Leicester
* SmartBike DC
* SMARTBIKE Puebla
* ToBike (Turin)
* Vélo à la carte Rennes
* Velodi Dijon
* Vélib' (1st generation)
* V'eol Caen
* Velcom Plaine Commune
* Wukong Bicycle
* Zagster

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