BCycle

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. File:BCycle 2.0 bike and station.JPG

File:Boulder.bcycle.solar.jpg 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/bikes-meant-for-sharing-b-cycle-and-bixi-29551/|title=Bikes meant for sharing, B-Cycle and BIXI: Urban PressCamp highlights equipment behind North America's public bike shares|last=Sumner|first=Jason|website=bikeradar.com|date=8 Mar 2011|access-date=19 Aug 2014}} They can then check out and return bikes at any station in their city.{{cite news|url=http://www.mysanantonio.com/default/article/Users-fitting-bike-share-into-their-lifestyles-1448067.php|title=Users fitting bike share into their lifestyles|last=Jentzen|first=Aaron|newspaper=San Antonio Express-News|publisher=Hearst Corporation|location=San Antonio|date=3 Jul 2011|access-date=19 Aug 2014}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.greenbikeslc.org/pricing.aspx|title=GREENbike: SLC Bike Share|website=greenbikeslc.org|publisher=B Cycle|access-date=19 Aug 2014}}{{cite web|url=https://www.greenbikeslc.org/About/FAQs.aspx |title=GREENbike FAQs |website=greenbikeslc.org |publisher=B Cycle |access-date=19 Aug 2014 |quote=Can I check out a bike immediately after returning a bike? Yes. |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140111145731/https://greenbikeslc.org/About/FAQs.aspx |archive-date=January 11, 2014 }} 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".{{cite web|url=http://www.treehugger.com/bikes/b-cycle-bike-sharing-membership-now-works-15-us-cities.html|title=B-Cycle bike-sharing membership now works in 15 U.S. cities|last=Graham Richard|first=Michael|website=treehugger.com|publisher=MNN Holding Company, LLC|date=18 Mar 2013|access-date=19 Aug 2014}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.bcycle.com/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=bVmw2q5kbYw%3d&tabid=1213 |title=B cycle: leadership and innovation in bike sharing (media kit) |website=bcycle.com |publisher=B-Cycle |page=4 |date=Feb 2014 |access-date=19 Aug 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140626140808/https://www.bcycle.com/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=bVmw2q5kbYw%3D&tabid=1213 |archive-date=June 26, 2014 }}

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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.denverpost.com/2008/05/14/dnc-offers-chance-to-go-free-wheelin/|title=DNC offers chance to go free-wheelin'|last=Post|first=Jenel Stelton-Holtmeier {{!}} The Denver|date=2008-05-15|website=The Denver Post|language=en-US|access-date=2020-01-03}}{{Cite web|url=https://press.humana.com/press-release/current-releases/freewheelin-democratic-national-convention-what-great-ride|title=Freewheelin at the Democratic National Convention: "What a great ride!" {{!}} Humana Healthcare|date=2008-08-29|website=press.humana.com|access-date=2020-01-03}} 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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnet.com/news/b-cycle-bike-sharing-to-be-the-largest-in-u-s/|title=B-cycle bike sharing to be the largest in U.S.|last=Profis|first=Sharon|date=2010-04-21|website=CNET|language=en|access-date=2020-01-03}}{{cite web|url=http://denverbikesharing.org/Denver_Bike_Sharing/FAQs.html|title=Frequently Asked Questions|website=denverbikesharing.org|access-date=19 Aug 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/first-big-us-bike-share-scheme-debuts-in-denver-colorado-25863/|title=First big US bike share scheme debuts in Denver, Colorado: B-Cycle starts with 400 bicycles across 40 stations|last=Huang|first=James|website=bikeradar.com|date=23 Apr 2010|access-date=19 Aug 2014}} In 2018, the eighth year of Denver B-cycle, it received a {{USD|400,000}} subsidy from the City of Denver government.

{{cite news |last=Navarro|first=Natalia V. |url=https://www.cpr.org/news/story/as-bikes-and-scooters-put-their-stamp-on-denver-b-cycle-talks-expansion-subsidies |title=As Bikes And Scooters Put Their Stamp On Denver, B-Cycle Talks Expansion, Subsidies |work=Colorado Public Radio |date=31 August 2018 |access-date=4 October 2018 }}

In October 2024, BCycle was acquired by Bicycle Transit Systems, making it the only vertically integrated docked bike share company in North America.{{cite web |last1=Gavin |first1=Kristin |title=Gearing up for Growth |url=https://www.bicycletransit.com/news/gearing-up-for-growth/ |website=Bicycle Transit Systems}}

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." 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.

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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.9news.com/article/money/business/denver-b-cycle-ending-january-declining-ridership/73-f2519841-2b8e-4e6d-a39f-42af1b998412|title=Denver B-cycle to end operations|date=2019-11-21|website=KUSA|access-date=2020-01-03}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.denverpost.com/2019/11/21/denver-bcycle-scooters-bike-share/|title=Denver B-cycle to end, city may thin herd of scooter operators as it tightens regulation of "micromobility" services|last1=Hern|first1=Elizabeth|last2=Ehern|first2=Ez {{!}}|date=2019-11-21|website=The Denver Post|language=en-US|access-date=2020-01-03|ref=DenPost 2019-11-21 BCycle 2020 closing}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.5280.com/2019/11/denver-b-cycle-will-cease-operations-at-the-end-of-january/|title=B-Cycle in Denver Will Cease Operations at the End of January|last=Bouchard|first=Jay|date=2019-11-21|website=5280|language=en|access-date=2020-01-03}}

File:Denver B-Cycle station on 1350 Larimer Street (1).jpg

File:Madison August 2022 018 (Madison BCycle).jpg

File:Philly Indego Bikeshare.jpg

As of January 2024, B-cycle has bicycle sharing systems in the following areas:{{cite web | url=https://www.bcycle.com/top-nav-bar/find-a-city | title=Find a City }}

• 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

• 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

{{reflist|22em}}

{{Commons category|B-cycle}}

• [https://www.bcycle.com/default.aspx B-cycle] (official website)

{{Bicycle sharing systems}}

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Category:Bicycle sharing companies