“Houston BCycle” bikes to be removed from Houston after shutdown

Earlier this month, Houston bike-sharing service BCycle announced it would be closing its doors on June 30. As that date approaches, the City of Houston has begun the process of collecting all of the bikes.

The service began in 2012, when the City of Houston entered into a contractual agreement with Houston Bike Share. The bikes were funded by a grant from former Houston Mayor Annise Parker’s Office of Sustainability through the Environmental Protection Agency.

The program started with just 18 bikes at three stations in downtown Houston and has grown to more than 150 stations. Despite such rapid expansion, the company announced plans to close in September 2023. The Houston City Council approved $500,000 in aid to keep the company afloat for nine months, but it has yet to overcome its financial challenges.

“Going forward, the city will work with Houston Bike Share to remove the stations and bikes over the next several months. The city owns much of the equipment, which will be sold to other bike share systems or through the city’s public surplus auction process,” Elise Marrion, Houston communications manager, told KPRC 2, referring to a recent press release.