Budapest’s public bike sharing system, MOL Bubi, relaunched on 3 August with a new operator, a new app and a new fleet that includes electrically assisted bikes. The transport authority BKK plans to expand the fleet step by step, making the service larger and more flexible than before.
A larger fleet
After the live launch, BKK is steadily increasing the number of bikes. After the initial period it will provide 3,300 vehicles in total.
| Bike type | Number |
|---|---|
| Classic | 2,500 |
| Electrically assisted | 800 |
| Total | 3,300 |
By 2027, about 5,000 new bikes are expected to be available across an extended area, with many more pick-up points. BKK’s aim is for the system to operate with as many as 8,000 bikes in the future if funding is available. From the autumn, bikes will also be available to pick up and drop off at Mobi-points.
How users pay
From 3 August anyone can use the system after downloading the new MOL Bubi app. Riders can pay per minute or buy monthly or annual passes. Holders of a pass in BudapestGO can use classic bikes at a discounted price. The first hundred buyers of an annual pass receive a MOL Bubi sweatshirt.
Operator and partners
The system is operated by Inurba Mobility, which also provides services in many other European cities. The contract, won in a public procurement, covers five years and can be extended by a further one and a half years. During this time, depending on available financial resources, the number of bikes could reach up to eight thousand. MOL remains the naming sponsor and strategic partner, having supported Bubi since its launch in 2014. Mastercard has joined as digitalisation partner to support digital payments.
Trial period
Close to 9 thousand users tested the system during the trial run. BKK collected feedback throughout, and testers played a large part in fine-tuning the system.