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The number of available bicycles will increase gradually following the launch. After the initial period, the system will offer 3,300 vehicles, comprising 2,500 conventional bicycles and 800 electric-assist models.
BKK expects the fleet to reach 5,000 bicycles by 2027, operating across a larger service area with more densely distributed collection points. Subject to the availability of funding, the system could eventually expand to as many as 8,000 bicycles.
From the fall, MOL Bubi bicycles will also be available for collection and return at Mobi mobility points.
Budapest Mayor Gergely Karácsony said the renewed service represented a significant improvement in both the quality and scale of the capital’s public bike-sharing system.
“On this very day, when we are facing the greatest challenges because of the effects of climate change, we are taking another important step toward a greener and more sustainable Budapest,” he said at the presentation of the new MOL Bubi.
Karácsony thanked the partners involved in the project and Budapest residents for their patience and for their growing use of MOL Bubi bicycles.
MOL Bubi was launched 12 years ago and has helped shape urban cycling habits and support the bicycle-friendly transformation of Budapest’s streets and roads, BKK said.
For many residents, the public bike-sharing system provided their first introduction to urban cycling. The bicycles have since become a familiar part of the Budapest streetscape, with cycling becoming increasingly popular across different age groups.
The second generation of MOL Bubi, introduced in 2021, became one of BKK’s most successful projects. Following the overhaul of the original system, the number of journeys increased five- to eightfold.
Over the past five years, customers rented MOL Bubi bicycles on 14 million occasions and traveled more than 28 million kilometers.
The addition of electric-assist bicycles is expected to broaden the system’s user base further. The models are intended to make cycling more attractive over longer distances and in areas with steeper terrain.
Almost 9,000 users tested the system during its trial period, and BKK collected feedback to support its fine-tuning.
“The test period proved that users are highly receptive to electric-assist bicycles. The new fleet brings the freedom to choose between modes of transport to even more people, allowing those who have so far been discouraged from cycling by smaller or larger hills, or by the distance, to get on a bicycle,” said Ádám Bodor, BKK’s deputy CEO for mobility.
“Public transportation in Budapest is complete with the public bike-sharing system, as demonstrated by MOL Bubi’s unique success, growing from generation to generation, and supported by the MOL Bubi discounts offered to public transportation pass holders,” he added.
Bodor said the fleet and service area would continue to expand.
The current service area of around 40 square kilometers could grow to 80 square kilometers during the next stages of development and exceed 110 square kilometers over the longer term.
“The new electric-assist bicycles and the expanding network will make even more parts of Budapest quickly and conveniently accessible by public bicycle,” he said.
Energy company MOL will remain the naming sponsor and strategic partner of the service, a role it has held since MOL Bubi was launched in 2014.
“The best projects are those that prove year after year that they respond to a real need. MOL Bubi has now become part of everyday life in Budapest, and the third generation proves that even a much-loved service is capable of continuous renewal,” said Péter Pantl, communications director of MOL Group.
“It is important for MOL to support mobility solutions that create real value and contribute to a more livable and sustainable city,” he added.
Mastercard has joined the system as its digitalization partner, supporting the development of a more convenient, secure and seamless digital payment experience.
“The renewed MOL Bubi service is a good example of how digitalization can make urban transport more convenient and more easily accessible to everyone,” said Tibor Berkes, Mastercard’s head of product development for Hungary and Slovenia in its Central European division.
“At Mastercard, we are working to make the experience of reliable and easy-to-use digital payments available in more and more areas of everyday life, including urban transport. A key element of this effort is the trial operation of the Pay&GO bank card ticket purchasing system, which has been available on all Budapest metro lines since April this year. We are proud to support the next chapter in MOL Bubi’s history as its digitalization partner,” he added.
The renewed system is operated by Inurba Mobility, which provides similar services in several other European cities.
The company was awarded a five-year contract through a public procurement procedure, with the option of a further 18-month extension. During that period, and depending on available funding, the combined fleet of conventional and electric-assist bicycles could reach 8,000 and extend into new areas.
“Budapest is a special city among the public bike-sharing systems we operate because we are not launching a new service here, but developing further a system that has become a defining element of urban mobility in recent years,” said Damien Vander Heyden, business development director at Inurba Mobility.
“The new MOL Bubi offers both more options for users and greater flexibility in developing the system: thanks to the Mobi points, the network can be expanded quickly and efficiently, while the new application makes use even simpler and more convenient. Inurba Mobility’s goal is to ensure that a bicycle is available to Budapest residents when and where they need it,” he added.
From Aug. 3, users can access conventional and electric-assist bicycles after downloading the new MOL Bubi application. The service is available through per-minute pricing or monthly and annual passes.
BudapestGO pass holders can use conventional bicycles at a discounted rate. The first 100 customers purchasing an annual pass will also receive a limited-edition MOL Bubi sweatshirt.
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