After more than two years in operation, Bikeshare Hawaii, the nonprofit that manages Biki, has raised some of its fares while extending a new discount to low-income residents.
Last week, Bikeshare Hawaii raised its single-ride, walk-up fares to $4, up from $3.50, for one ride up to 30 minutes. For multiple trips up to 300 minutes, the rate is now $25, up from $20.
In addition, overage fees, which apply to trips exceeding an allotted time, will increase to $4.50 for every 30 minutes, up from $3.50.
The nonprofit decided an increase in fees was necessary to offset growing operational costs as demand for Biki grows, according to Bikeshare Hawaii Executive Director Todd Boulanger.
“What we’ve seen is, if you were using Biki a year ago or longer, you would typically see one rider using one Biki at a time,” said Boulanger. “Now we’re seeing multiple friends and colleagues taking Biki trips, three to five people Biki-ing around. That’s put a lot of demand on our system.”
Bikeshare Hawaii, Honolulu’s first bikeshare, was launched with a $2 million subsidy from the city and state in June 2017, and has done well. In October, Bikeshare Hawaii marked a milestone, surpassing 100,000 rides in a single month, a 62% jump from the same month the prior year. By November, riders had logged more than 1.3 million trips.
“We’ve doubled our use per bike between year one and year two,” said Boulanger. “It used to be rare when we had 4,500 rides a day, but now it’s almost every day we have over that number.”
Bikeshare Hawaii now offers about 1,300 bikes at 130 Biki stops — 300 more bikes and 30 more stops than at its launch in 2017 — from downtown Honolulu to Diamond Head and Waikiki. It is the sixth most heavily used, station-based bikeshare system in the United States, according to the National Association of City Transportation Officials.
The growing use means more wear and tear on Biki bikes, he said, and more work re-balancing the various stops.
The most frequently used stops are in the downtown, Kakaako and Waikiki neighborhoods, with one of the most popular stops near the Duke Kahanamoku statue.
Boulanger said the increased fares target walk- up fares, which are typically purchased at the Biki stop kiosks by visitors or first-time users.
Monthly membership rates, popular among residents, will remain the same. The commuter plan offers an unlimited number of 30-minute trips per month at $15; the voyager plan, an unlimited number of 60-minute trips per month for $25; and the free-spirit plan, a bank of 300 minutes for $20 per month.
At the same time, Bikeshare Hawaii is extending a discounted plan to low- income residents: an unlimited number of 30-minute rides per month for just $10. The cost of the commuter plan is $15 per month, but Hawaii residents who receive public assistance, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), can get the discounted price.
This plan, the group’s most affordable membership plan, is being offered as part of an “Access Program” initiative to help low-income residents overcome barriers to bikeshare and transportation. To be eligible, residents need to provide a benefits award letter and a valid, government-issued ID.
Overage fees will still apply, however, and applicants need a valid, active phone number and email address.
The single-ride price, at $4, is higher than in some metropolitan cities.
Bay Wheels, operated by Lyft, offers a single ride of up to 30 minutes for $2 in the San Francisco Bay Area, but an extra $3 for each additional 15 minutes. Lime, which operates the scooters that city officials swiftly ended by sweeping them from Honolulu sidewalks last year, offers bikes at $1 to unlock and 15 cents per minute. Citi Bike in Miami offers single, 30-minute rides for $4.50.
Boulanger said these other companies operate under different models, often with corporate backing, and that $4 for a single ride is about average, factoring in cost of living in Hawaii.
Bikeshare Hawaii was launched as a nonprofit administering a for-profit operator, as outlined in a 2014 city plan. Biki’s operating partner, Secure Bike Share Hawaii, invested in the bicycles and equipment, maintains them and provides customer service.
But the nonprofit faces further challenges ahead.
A city resolution introduced by Councilwoman Heidi Tsuneyoshi says Bikeshare Hawaii should fairly compensate the city for its use of sidewalks and metered spaces in Honolulu. It urges the city administration to write up leases for Bikeshare Hawaii, subject to Council approval, for the per-square-foot use of city property.
The Honolulu City Council is also considering bills to limit and govern “shared micromobility vehicles” with permits, including parking fees for metered stalls. Bikeshare Hawaii uses more than 30 metered spaces for free.
Boulanger said paying for the metered spaces would change how the nonprofit operates and possibly result in some reduction in services.
Bikeshare Hawaii is still working to pay off its startup debts, he said. All fees go toward operations or paying off loans, and the nonprofit is about four years from breaking even, depending on factors including future costs and competition.
Currently, Biki faces little competition from similar operators.
RideSharee, a for-profit dockless bikeshare system, entered the Honolulu market in the fall of 2018, but with only about two dozen bikes. While it has since expanded and continues to grow, the company faces hurdles from city regulations that limit it to operating primarily from privately owned properties.
In another year, Boulanger said he expects there may be electric scooter companies running in Honolulu, as well, if the market here is similar to others on the mainland.
“Biki’s growing up, and we hope to continue to grow and prosper,” he said. “Our biggest challenge right now is managing growth effectively.”
BIKI’S NEW FARES
Visit gobiki.org or call 888-340-2454 for more information. Fare prices do not include tax.
INCREASING
>> Single ride (one ride up to 30 minutes), $4 (formerly $3.50)
>> Multistop plan (multiple trips up to 300 minutes), $25 (formerly $20)
>> Overage fees (applies to trips exceeding time allotted), $4.50 per 30 minutes (formerly $3.50 per 30 minutes),
REMAINING THE SAME
>> Commuter plan: Unlimited 30-minute trips per month, $15 monthly
>> Voyager plan: Unlimited 60-minute trips per month, $25 monthly
>> Free-spirit plan: Bank of 300 minutes, expires in one year, $20 monthly
NEW
>> Oahu residents who receive SNAP or TANF qualify for the commuter plan, which offers an unlimited number of 30-minute trips per month, $10
BIKI MILESTONES
>> Biki launched June 28, 2017.
