AUSTIN, Texas — Capital Metro (CapMetro) is rolling out a new fleet of bikes to rent throughout downtown, and this time they’re 100% electric.
Previously, Austin's bike-sharing program MetroBike operated a fleet of electric and manual bikes downtown, but CapMetro recently acquired them. They also started partnering with the City of Austin, getting them about $21 million to revamp the program including an $11.3 million Transportation Alternative Set-Aside (TASA) grant that was awarded to the city in 2023.
“We found that over 84% of the trips were being taken on the e-bikes, when they made up a minority of the fleet,” said Diego Martinez-Moncada, the manager of MetroBike operations and maintenance.
Since July 1, the program has already put out around 500 electric bikes throughout downtown and the surrounding areas.
Ridership for Bikeshare over the past few years has been increasing, but last year’s numbers dipped a little, from 316,980 rides in 2022 to just 283,965 in 2023. CapMetro says the extreme heat Austin experienced last summer is another reason they switched to an all-electric fleet.
“The e-bikes prevent people from getting so sweaty when they’re in a suit or any of their work attire, or trying to get from place to place,” Martinez-Moncada said. “Even if you’re wearing jeans, that e-bike allows for everybody to get where they need to go with a little less effort.”
CapMetro currently has 37 docking stations for the new e-bikes, with plans to open dozens more. To find a dock and start riding, you'll have to download the new Bikeshare app.
A CapMetro team goes into the field changing the bikes' batteries, but the public transportation company says they're working with Austin Energy to make most of the current docking stations charging as well.
There are several pricing options to ride the electric bikes, ranging from by the minute to yearly passes.
- Single Trip: $1.09 to unlock, then $0.23/min
- 1 Day Pass: $12.99 - unlimited 60-minute trips within 24 hours
- 31 Day Pass: $11 - unlimited 60-minute trips within 31 days
- Annual Pass: $86.60 - unlimited 60-minute trips within 365 days
- Student Pass: University of Texas at Austin students and staff - $12/year, Huston-Tillotson students and staff - free
CapMetro's hope with this new electric bike fleet is that it steers people away from getting behind the wheel.
"At the end of the day, it's about getting people out of cars," Martinez-Moncada said. "We just want to have as many options available."