Madison BCycle Exceeds 100,000 Trips for Second Consecutive Year in 2015
Extended season and ridership records highlight today’s release of BCycle’s Annual Report
(Madison, WI) – Madison BCycle, the city’s urban bike share system, closed the 2015 season logging over 100,000 trips for the second consecutive year. “We are really proud to wrap up another season with impressive numbers,” noted Madison BCycle City Manager Martha Laugen.”Between regular commuters and visitors, we see more people every day make the choice to go by bike, and we continue to grow in our capacity to make that choice convenient, accessible and fun.”
According to the Madison BCycle 2015 Annual Report, out today, riders took 101,339 trips in 2015, covering over 307,200 miles. Madison BCycle wrapped up their fifth season of operations with 40 stations in the network and 350 bikes in circulation. The system averaged 347 bike checkouts per day of operations between March 17 and December 31.
Mayor Paul Soglin commented, “The City of Madison’s partnership with BCycle has been a wonderful success and we look forward to continuing it. BCycle is an incredible asset, not only for Madison residents who are making quick trips through the City, but also for visitors as they have a novel way to explore our neighborhoods, lake shores and bike paths.” The Mayor added, “I am pleased that BCycle has been able to expand to winter operations as well.”
In early December 2015, Madison BCycle announced the rollout of winter operations for select stations in the network. Typically closed between mid-December and mid-March, the bike share debuted service between six stations connecting the UW-Madison campus to downtown and Willy Street. Extended operating dates helped yield new trip records later in the season, with bike share trips made during October through December up an average of 20% over previous years’ records.
“We are thrilled to provide winter bike share options to Madison riders,” said Laugen, “There is a vibrant winter bicycling culture here, and it is important to us to serve the community seamlessly throughout the year.”
Throughout 2015, 68% of trips using Madison BCycle were made by annual or monthly members, most of whom are Madison area residents. Walk-up users, who make fewer trips using the bike share system than members, grew in number this year by 38% from 2014. Annual membership numbers rose in 2015 as well, up 6% from 2014 with 2,789 sales and renewals.
In partnership Madison College, Madison BCycle added a new station to the bike share network in September 2015 at the Truax Campus. The station at Truax, along with the array of BCycle stations, will open to full service again in mid-March 2016 following limited winter operations.
Access Madison BCycle’s 2015 Annual Report
Media Contact
Martha Laugen
martha.laugen@madisonbcycle.com
608.515.8853
