Planning & Development
Press Release
Houston BCycle to Close June 30
June 14, 2024 -- After 12 years of collaboration and support provided by the city of Houston, the Houston BCycle bike sharing system announced it will stop operating effective June 30, 2024. This will conclude the City’s contract with Houston Bike Share, the city’s operator of the bike share system. Though the program grew in popularity, it has been unable to sustain itself on fees and sponsorships alone.
Houston Bike Share and the BCycle program started in 2012 with three stations downtown and 18 bikes, which were funded by a grant from the Mayor's Office of Sustainability procured through the Environmental Protection Agency. Houston BCycle grew into the nation’s largest non-profit bike share program with more than 150 stations.
The system's subsequent expansion was a result of support from the city of Houston, funding from a federal Transportation Improvement Program grant, and support from Council District Service Funds, Harris County Precinct One and many other public and private partnerships.
Houston Bike Share previously announced plans to shut down in September 2023. However, Houston City Council’s approval of $500,000 enabled Houston Bike Share to continue operating over a nine-month period until other funding opportunities could be found. Despite combined efforts of the Houston Bike Share board of directors, partner agencies and advocates, the program could not overcome its financial challenges.
“Bike share systems across the United States have experienced similar challenges," said Jennifer Ostlind, Interim Director of Planning and Development Department. "Houston’s system has outlived many others, but we have learned that successful systems that serve more than just recreational purposes require corporate and public support to remain viable."
Going forward, the City will work with Houston Bike Share to remove stations and bikes over the next couple of months. The City owns much of the equipment, which will be sold to other bike share systems or through the City’s public surplus auction process to recoup transition funding.