Metro Bike Share
| Company type | Public transportation service |
|---|---|
| Industry | Bicycle sharing system |
| Founded | July 7, 2016 |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles , United States |
Area served | Los Angeles metropolitan area |
Key people | Los Angeles Metro (manager), Bicycle Transit Systems (operator) |
| Products | Bicycle sharing |
| Owner | Los Angeles Metro |
Number of employees | Transport Workers Union Local 200 (represented workforce) |
| Website | www |
Metro Bike Share operates as a bicycle sharing system within the metropolitan region of Los Angeles, California. Initiated on July 7, 2016, this service is managed by Los Angeles Metro and run by Bicycle Transit Systems, a nationwide bike-sharing company. The network includes approximately 1,400 bicycles distributed among 93 stations located in Downtown Los Angeles, Venice, and the Port of Los Angeles.
History
Among major U.S. cities, Los Angeles was slow to implement a municipal bike-sharing program, with early attempts in 2013 not coming to fruition. In August 2015, the city council approved a pilot project focused on downtown, established through collaboration between Metro and the city government. The system launched in July 2016 featuring 1,000 bicycles and 65 stations concentrated in Downtown LA.
By July 2017, Metro Bike Share extended its coverage to include Pasadena and the Port of Los Angeles, adding 30 and 13 stations respectively. In September of the same year, an additional expansion brought 15 stations to the Venice Beach and Santa Monica areas. Nevertheless, the Pasadena segment was terminated in September 2018 due to insufficient ridership and elevated operating expenses. The workforce is represented by the Transport Workers Union Local 200.
Metro Bike Share stands out as the first bike-sharing program in the United States integrated within a city's public transportation network. Managed by Metro, it enables users to utilize the regional TAP card, which is also accepted on Metro buses and trains. Plans are underway to facilitate complimentary transfers between bike share trips and other transit options.
The original contract for operations was awarded to Philadelphia-based Bicycle Transit Systems, scheduled to expire in 2024. During subsequent procurement efforts for contracts in 2024 and 2025, Lyft Urban Solutions emerged as the preferred candidate. However, following objections from BTS regarding conflicts of interest and wage issues, Metro opted to extend BTS’s contract on a month-to-month basis through May 2026.
Fares
For individual rides, Metro Bike Share charges $1.75 per every half-hour segment. Various long-term pass options exist: $5 daily, $17 monthly, and $150 annually; these passes permit unlimited trips under 30 minutes without extra fees. Any journey exceeding 30 minutes incurs an additional $1.75 fee for each subsequent half-hour period, even when using a pass.
Passes can be acquired via the TAP card, though users must create a separate Metro Bike Share account. Stored value or passes from other Metro transit services or regional bike share programs are not accepted, and no discounted transfer options between these services have been implemented as of October 2018. Alternatively, riders may pay using credit or debit cards at station kiosks without requiring a TAP card.