April 19, 2023
PORTLAND, OR - In anticipation of Earth Day, the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT), Lyft, and Nike have announced a 33% expansion of the BIKETOWN bike-share fleet, which will add 500 bikes for a total of 2,000. About 200 new e-bikes will be available immediately, with the fleet expected to reach its full size over the summer.
The expansion follows the service area's growth in January 2022, and aims to meet the rising demand for bike-sharing. In 2022, BIKETOWN reached a record of over 575,000 rides, a 65% increase from the previous year, and is on track to surpass that record in 2023.
BIKETOWN, known for its distinct orange e-bikes, is a partnership between founding partner and title sponsor Nike, Lyft (the largest bike-share operator in the nation), and PBOT, which manages the city's transportation system.
To celebrate Earth Day, Nike is offering a free BIKETOWN ride on Saturday, April 22, and has partnered with Lyft to add 30 Earth Day bikes to the system, featuring depictions of beloved local landmarks. A new BIKETOWN station, made with 25% Nike Grind rubber from the company's footwear manufacturing scraps, was also unveiled at the press conference announcing the expansion.
Transportation Commissioner Mingus Mapps celebrated the expansion at the Urban Plaza at Portland State University, emphasizing the importance of the public-private partnership with BIKETOWN in helping Downtown Portland recover from the pandemic and providing sustainable transportation options.
Lyft General Manager for BIKETOWN Kanika Agrawal and Nike's Senior Director of North America Social & Community Impact Matt Geschke also expressed their enthusiasm for the expansion, praising the partnership's role in promoting sustainable transportation and increasing access to sport and movement for everyone.
BIKETOWN's growing ridership is attributed to the popularity of its 100% e-bike fleet, the expansion of the service area, and the BIKETOWN for All equity program, which serves low-income Portlanders, high school students, and college students who qualify for financial aid. In 2022, BIKETOWN for All members accounted for around 35% of all rides, with over 200,000 rides on e-bikes.
The BIKETOWN fleet expansion is a testament to the program's commitment to providing sustainable, accessible transportation options for the Portland community, and is sure to contribute to a greener, more bike-friendly city.
More: PBOT and Lyft announce BIKETOWN fleet expansion to 2,000 e-bikes