Austin BCycle is now MetroBike

The new brand features more bikes, e-bikes and bike stations to create more access to affordable active transportation and transit options.

Austin BCycle, under a new management partnership between the city of Austin and CapMetro is being rebranded to “MetroBike.” The rebrand features new colors and signage for the bicycle and e-bike fleet and stations and integration of the current BCycle App with CapMetro’s App. The update follows the new partnership approved in June between CapMetro and the city of Austin to use the bikeshare system to improve its connection to transit and aid the long-term mobility goals laid out in the Austin Strategic Mobility Plan.

The rebrand is the first step of multiple future service improvements such as:

• Expanding the BCycle fleet and number of bike stations, including areas outside of the downtown core.
• Providing better first- and last-mile options to the transit.
• Fully electrifying BCycle’s fleet.

“We’ve taken many steps this year to create a better active transportation network in the city – from implementing protected bike lanes on Webberville Road to expanding bike and scooter parking downtown,” said Austin Transportation Director Rob Spillar. “The MetroBike expanded fleet and options improve mobility for all.”

Bike riding has increased under COVID-19 shelter-in-place orders throughout the nation, and e-bikes have been used at rates 3 to 4.5 times more frequently than the regular pedal bikes. More than 200 e-bikes are on loan in Austin from BCycle/Trek as a pilot project demonstrating the increased use of the system when e-bikes are available to riders.

“The expansion and electrification of Austin’s bikeshare system is an ideal counterpart to CapMetro’s expanding transit system, as well as the growing bicycling infrastructure across the city,” said Sharmila Mukherjee, CapMetro Executive Vice President of Planning and Development. “This partnership with the City of Austin and Austin BCycle is a key asset for our community and a great support for broader transportation and mobility options that work well together. With bicycle ridership increasing across the nation, the collaboration couldn’t come at a better time.”

Austin Transportation and CapMetro collaborate on a multitude of projects to improve transportation in the city which include small projects like bus stop relocations to large community visions like Project Connect and the Austin Strategic Mobility Plan.

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Contact:
Hannah Barron, Austin Transportation Department, 512-974-9238
Jenna Maxfield, CapMetro, 512-389-7778