You LOVE bike share!
Kansas Citians are discovering the joys of going by bike more everyday as they continue to set outstanding records for ridership. RideKC Bike consistently sees annual double digit growth. In the first quarter of 2024 alone, we saw trip rates per bike increase another 60% compared to the same time last year.
This incredible growth has also come with challenges as we help the community pioneer a path to electrification. Last summer, we talked about a few of those growing pains. Some areas of our service, especially in Kansas City, Missouri (KCMO) where the equipment is beginning to wear due to particularly high use over many years, are ready for reinvestment so we can continue providing the highest levels of service for the community.
Gearing up for more bikes and new batteries
Our KCMO fleet was last renewed in 2020, and aging batteries have limited the number of bikes we can deploy over the last two summers. Fortunately, the KCMO City Council recently approved matching funds to a federal grant that will allow us to replace old batteries and purchase new bikes!
We love that the new electric bikes are so popular, and we are excited to share some of the upcoming plans we have to help meet such high demand.
What is RideKC Bike's next step?
RideKC Bike is working with local municipal partners on grants and reinvestment opportunities to improve service levels and make the electric bikes more efficient than ever. Thanks to these partners and grants, over 100 more electric bikes will be added in 2024!
These new electric bikes will be paired with the introduction of new higher efficiency batteries, with over 40% more capacity than our current batteries, helping improve range and capacity for more trips and miles for all our riders. Stay tuned for some coming announcements on the timing of these new bikes and batteries.
We’re not stopping there, though. Plans are already underway for adding additional bikes to expand service in new neighborhoods as well as increase capacity in our existing service area over the next couple years as we work to help move Kansas City into the future of efficient transportation options.
In the interim, we're stretching our resources and building capacity:
- Reconditioning older batteries to squeeze out a bit more juice
- Fixing damaged bikes as parts become available
- Applying for grants and new funding early and often
Wanna be the power in our pedals?
As a mission-based nonprofit transit provider, we are focused on providing the highest possible standard of service while also keeping costs low for our riders. RideKC Bike has never increased usage prices since the program launched in 2012. The user fees you pay to unlock and ride a bike cover 20% of what it costs us to operate, maintain, and deploy RideKC Bikes. Corporate partners provide another 20%, and city and county governments carry the remaining 60% of operating costs.
Be a squeaky wheel
Let your city know that you want more bikes! Cities love hearing positive feedback on our local community programs. Reach out to the mayor and city council members in your community. In our region, there are a number of cities that invest in and offer bike share, including KCMO, NKC, KCK, Lenexa, and Johnson County Parks & Recreation District. Let them know that bike share is a valuable resource and that you want to see it expanded to better meet your needs for transportation, recreation, and health. We want local governments to view bike share as a quality-of-life amenity for its residents.
More ways you can give RideKC Bike a boost
- If you work for a company that offers grants or sponsorships to nonprofit organizations, reach out to the leadership and ask them to consider adding bike share to their philanthropic priorities.
- If you work for a real estate development or property management company, ask them to sponsor a bike share hub at their office building or apartment complex.
- If your business is located in a community improvement district (CID), ask them to partner with RideKC Bike.
In the meantime, here's how you can get the most out of your ride
- Use the RideKC Bike app to locate bikes and to find out their battery status for any advance trip planning.
- As much as possible, please return bikes to a hub at the end of your trip to cut down on the time it takes our team to retrieve bikes and restock the hubs. Bikes parked at hubs are also less likely to be vandalized.
- Report any maintenance issues through the RideKC Bike app or by email info@ridekcbike.com.
Thank you
We’re proud to serve as Kansas City’s grassroots non-profit bike share program since 2012. Thank you for making RideKC Bike such a success! We remain committed to providing the highest standards of service as we continue to transition and grow the electric fleet.
Questions? Email our customer service team at info@ridekcbike.com.