Red Bike, Cincinnati’s non-profit station-based bike share system, is pausing operations next month until early spring to roll out a new pricing model amid unsustainable system revenue.
“This is not where Red Bike imagined operations would be as the system enters the tenth year of service, especially after an exceptional 2023 – marked by a record-setting nearly 140,000 rides, 33% of which came from our income-qualified Red Bike Go program. However, like all public transportation options, system revenue alone cannot sustain our operations,” the bike sharing service said in a press release, according to the Cincinnati Business Courier.
On January 12, 2024, Red Bike will pause regular operations by closing all stations, however, will work on a case-by-case basis with members to extend existing passes or refund purchases.
During the pause, Red Bike said it will make “significant staff reductions” and implement a new pricing model before relaunching in the spring.
Under the new pricing model, a two-hour ride will increase from $10 to $12, the monthly price will rise from $18 to $30, and an annual pass will increase from $100 to $150.
Red Bike, according to the Cincinnati Business Courier, said the price increases are “necessary to ensure the sustainability and longevity of our service in Cincinnati.” The outlet also points out that Red Bike has offered more electric-powered bikes in recent years, which, by nature, are pricier to buy and maintain than non-electric bicycles.
“The reality is that bike-sharing, like many forms of public transit, operates at a financial loss,” Red Bike said in its press release. “These pricing adjustments will help us continue to offer our services without compromising on quality.”
“We believe that these pricing adjustments are essential for Red Bike to remain a reliable and sustainable choice for mobility in the Cincy region,” Red Bike Executive Director Doug McClintock added in a statement, according to the outlet. “We are committed to providing a just and joyous transportation option to our community, and these changes will help us continue to deliver on that promise.”
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Ohio Star and The Star News Network. Follow Kaitlin on X / Twitter.
Photo “Cincy Red Bike” by Cincy Red Bike.
