City announces the future of Biki bikeshare operations

News Release from Honolulu Department of Transportation Services, June 28, 2024

HONOLULU – The City and County of Honolulu’s Department of Transportation Services (DTS) announced Friday that as of Monday, July 1, 2024, Bikeshare Hawaiʻi has turned over its oversight role of the Biki bikeshare system to DTS.

There will be no changes to Biki operations with this transition from Bikeshare Hawaiʻi to the City, and riders will not notice any changes in system availability, operations, Biki accounts or customer support.

“As Director of the Department of Transportation Services, I commend Bikeshare Hawaiʻi and its uncompensated Board of Directors for their pioneering efforts in establishing Biki and for their diligent governance throughout its operation,” said Roger Morton, director of the Department of Transportation Services. “Secure Bike Share will continue their effective and efficient operations and maintenance of the Biki Bikeshare system, as they have since system opening in 2017.”

DTS will oversee a concessions contract beginning July 1, 2024 and running until June 30, 2025.

“We are pleased that the City and County of Honolulu will continue Biki operations. This is a natural evolution of the program,” said Greg Gaug, board chair for Bikeshare Hawaiʻi. “With Biki’s proven ridership, there is opportunity for the City to expand the network and achieve greater coverage on Oʻahu. Biki is the 6th most-used bikeshare system in the country, illustrating how critical our kamaʻāina-based system is to Honolulu’s shared mobility.”

After nearly five years of research, community outreach, feedback and public events, the demand for human-powered active transportation in Honolulu grew Biki to a fleet of 1,288 bicycles, 136 self-service stations, and 2,500 docked bicycle stalls. In 2023, there were nearly 800,000 rides on Biki, with 62% taken by residents, and nearly 17,000 active members.

Bikeshare Hawaiʻi, a non-profit organization, has worked with the City and community partners since its inception in 2014. It has set fares and provided leadership, governance, marketing, and administrative services. 

Secure Bike Share Hawaiʻi (SBS), the organization which operates and maintains the Biki system’s bikes, docks, mobile apps and customer service will continue their role and work with DTS and the City to ensure seamless, uninterrupted Biki service for Honolulu residents and visitors. SBS collects revenues from Biki rides, and the system is self-sufficient and does not require subsidy from the City to operate. This change in oversight also better positions the system for future expansion opportunities to potentially service new communities.

Currently, DTS permits the use of Biki stations on City properties, and the City owns a portion of the bicycles and docking stations. DTS remains committed to the expansion of sustainable micromobility options for all of Oʻahu, assuring our island's residents and visitors that Biki will remain a component of our multimodal transit options. 

DTS plans to deploy future federal funding towards the acquisition of replacement bicycles and docks to continue our support of Biki and provide affordable, efficient, and healthy ways for our residents and visitors to move around Honolulu. 

—PAU—

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