Ghent will open new permits for bike-share operators from November, because the current permits are expiring. The city wants to double the number of shared-bike trips, from about 1.25 million last year to 2.5 million by 2030. The new rules allow larger fleets and require operators to provide bikes in every neighbourhood.
What changes
From next year, two operators will be allowed to offer shared bikes in Ghent. There will be one permit for conventional bikes and one for electric bikes, each with a maximum of 1,250 bikes. In total, that is 500 more bikes than are in Ghent today.
Operators will have to provide a minimum number of shared bikes in each neighbourhood, so that there is a service for every resident. Minimums will also apply to some other locations, such as park-and-ride sites and business parks. For certain neighbourhoods, a maximum number will be set to avoid nuisance.
The numbers
| Year | Shared-bike trips |
|---|---|
| 2022 | 242,000 |
| 2025 | 1.24 million |
| 2030 (target) | 2.5 million |
In the first eight months of this year, trips rose by 22 percent. The city expects that this year’s total will probably pass 1.5 million trips. The largest increases were in Mariakerke and Wondelgem, where supply was expanded: compared with a year earlier, trips there rose by 48 and 57 percent respectively.
Why the city is doing it
The city describes shared bikes as a lever for sustainable travel and a means to tackle transport poverty. It also says they save space because bike ownership falls.
The permits link to another recent measure. Ghent will launch a social mobility budget for low-income households from 1 May 2027, which can be used for bike sharing, car sharing, buying or renting a bike, bike repair, cycling lessons and collective transport to work. For a single person, the budget is at most 125 euros per year, and users are expected to pay 20 percent themselves. The scheme runs from mid-2027 to 31 December 2031, with 4.46 million euros set aside, and about 11,000 households are estimated to be eligible. In the coming months, the city will look for bike-sharing organisations, car-sharing organisations and bike dealers that want to join.