Bike-sharing service “Houston BCycle” to close after 12 years

Bike sharing program Houston BCycle announced it would close its service on June 30 after 12 years in business.

The service began in 2012, when the City of Houston entered into a contractual agreement with Houston Bike Share. The bikes were funded by a grant from former Houston Mayor Annise Parker’s Office of Sustainability through the Environmental Protection Agency.

The program started with just 18 bikes at three stations in downtown Houston and eventually expanded to more than 150 stations. Despite such rapid expansion, the company announced plans to close in September 2023. The Houston City Council approved a $500,000 lifeline to keep the company afloat for nine months, but it has still not been able to overcome its financial difficulties.

“Bike share systems across the United States have experienced similar challenges,” said Jennifer Ostlind, Houston’s interim director of planning and development. “Houston’s system has outlasted many others, but we have learned that effective systems that serve more than just recreational purposes require support from businesses and the public to remain viable.”

The city is working with Houston Bike Share to remove BCycle stations and bikes over the coming months.