In Seattle, where bikes can be rented for as little as $2, rental fees don't cover most of the costs associated with bik share.
There are several options for bikeshare in Seattle, but it's unlikely that any are making profits yet. "When I rent a bike, I’m one of probably two to three people who will rent the bike in a day. That means the bike I rent will bring in a few dollars a day for the bike sharing company," writes Joshua McNichols for KOUW. This especially true of rentals in the market that are sometimes as cheap as $2.
Still these services have their eyes on other sources of revenue. "Investors are pouring money into bike share companies," McNichols reports. Limebike has raised 62 million and Ofo has 1.3 billion in investment from Alibaba. These investors see potential revenue streams in city money that might pay to support these services in their cities and ad revenue that could be placed on the bikes or the apps used to get those bikes. If these other revenue streams don't emerge, this service for sustainable transit might not be a sustainable business model.
FULL STORY: How do Seattle's bike share companies make money?
Seattle Commits to Dockless Bike Share
After the failure of its municipal bike share system Pronto!, Seattle was one of the first to regulate the operation of dockless bke share companies in the city. Now it's one-year pilot program is permanent.
Shared Mobility Riders in Seattle to Get Free Transit Trips
Riders who park Lime bikes or scooters at one of 14 designated Link light rail stations can earn free trips on the region’s transit systems.
Seattle Sees Strong Bike Share, Scooter Ridership
The city’s shared bikes and e-scooters provided half as many trips as a $2 billion tunnel.
What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities
How architecture and urban landscapes reflect the trauma and dysfunction of the post-war experience.
‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Deleted in Federal Purge
Basic resources and information on building bike lanes and sidewalks, formerly housed on the government’s Complete Streets website, are now gone.
Downtown Los Angeles on the Rise: A Promising 2025
Fueled by new developments, cultural investments, and a growing dining scene, downtown Los Angeles is poised for significant growth in 2025, despite challenges from recent wildfires and economic uncertainties.
San Francisco Slow Streets Bucks Citywide Trend, Reducing Injuries by 61 Percent
Low-cost interventions aimed at slowing traffic are making a major impact on road safety.
How Single-Family Conversions Benefit Both Homeowners and Cities
Converting single-family homes to triplexes can ease the housing crisis and offer affordable, flexible options for more households. Why is it largely illegal?
Report: Transportation Equity Requires More Than Electrification
Lower-income households often lack the resources to buy electric cars, signaling a need for a more holistic approach to improving mobility and lowering transportation costs.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Economic & Planning Systems, Inc.
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research