Houston Will Be Largest US City Without Bike Share

Houston’s 12-year-old public bike share system will end operations at the end of June, reports Adam Zuvanich for Houston Public Media. Despite recent hopes that the city would end up with two systems, Houston BCycle, the network’s operator, says it cannot afford to keep the system running any longer.

Now, plans for METRO, the city’s transit agency, to start its own bike share system are also in jeopardy. According to Zuvanich, “METRO's board of directors voted last September to spend $10 million on a five-year bike-sharing contract with Quebec-based PBSC Urban Solutions. But it is unclear whether the transit agency, which has since undergone leadership changes, is moving forward with that plan.” The plan could also face opposition from new mayor John Whitmire, who has halted road safety and Complete Streets projects, marking a sharp turnaround from the policies of his predecessor Sylvester Turner.

Once BCycle ends services, Houston will be the largest U.S. city with no bike share network.