Paying for Bike Sharing Systems: Examples and Trends

Cities in Latin America aiming to promote sustainable mobility, and cycling in particular, should consider establishing a bicycle-sharing system (BSS). These systems can be an important element of a city’s transport infrastructure and are relatively cheap to implement, with a multitude of financing and funding options available. 

This C40 Finance Facility report outlines the available financing and funding options for BSS. Cities in Latin America have followed a variety of these financing models. Buenos Aires initially owned and operated its BSS, Ecobici, which is subsidized and free to all users. In Mexico City, the city owns the assets behind Ecobici, but the system is operated by Clear Channel Outdoors, an advertising agency. Other schemes, like Bike Rio, are run entirely by private companies based on a concession.

Business models need to be based upon careful consideration of what a bike-sharing system can do for a city, and whether the city has the capacity to plan and manage such a system. The decision to resort to financing from the municipal budget or to the private sector should be made based on what is best for the BSS.

This document is available in English, Spanish and Portuguese.