CapMetro announced a partnership with PBSC Urban Solutions, Inc. to update and expand MetroBike, Austin’s bike-sharing program. The contract is part of a $20.6 million expansion plan involving CapMetro and the City of Austin.
The project utilizes an $11.3 million Transportation Alternative Set-Aside (TASA) grant awarded to the City of Austin in October 2023.
“This is a key piece of the puzzle we need to start building one of the country’s best bikeshare systems,” said Dottie Watkins, President & CEO at CapMetro. “This investment in our bike share program will bring better flexibility and access for riders to connect to the larger web of mobility in Austin transit network.”
The contract will allow CapMetro to replace and expand 80 MetroBike stations, 1,000 docks, and 800 bicycles focused in downtown Austin, tripling the size of the bike-share system.
Plans also include transitioning the entire bicycle fleet to electric-assist bicycles (e-bikes). Currently, only 43% of the MetroBike fleet are e-bikes, with traditional manual bicycles making up the rest.
Since its launch in December 2013, MetroBike has grown in popularity among university students and residents as a preferred transportation mode. Usage has increased from less than 5,000 monthly trips before 2019 to nearly 28,000 by April 2023 due to adding e-bikes. The service sees peak usage during major events like ACL Festival and SXSW.
In 2020, an interlocal agreement between CapMetro and the City of Austin formalized plans for future expansion. Under this agreement, Austin owns all physical hardware while CapMetro manages technology operations and maintenance.
New bikes and stations are expected to be rolled out starting summer 2024.
For more information about MetroBike, visit capmetro.org/metrobike.
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