Bike sharing is a great way to have the easy of bicycle use, without having to maintain and keep track of a personal bicycle.
There are a couple of bike share options within the city of Madison.
Red Bike Program
Budget Bicycle Center runs a long-term bike rental program. You put down a deposit or credit card imprint, which is returned when the bike and lock is returned (making the total cost FREE!). Bikes are serviced for free during the summer by Budget Bicycle Center. The only maintenance required of the rider is a weekly tire pressure check.
This is a popular program, so bikes are checked out on a first come, first served basis. Rental time starts in the spring, usually early to mid April. More about the Red Bike Project
Biking and Walking
Madison BCycle
Madison BCycle is an urban bike sharing program. Access 500-plus electric bikes at 90 stations throughout the Madison Metro area!
UW Transportation Services, in partnership with BCycle, has reduced membership prices for UW students, employees and affiliates! See the BCycle website for more information on discounted membership costs.
As of March 15, 2022: BCycle annual members get an unlimited number of trips of 90 minutes or less with no additional charge beyond annual fees.
- UW students – promo code WISCSTUDENT
- UW Employees – promo code WISCFACULTY
- UW Extension employees – promo code UWEXTENSION
- UW Health employees with emails ending in “.edu” – promo code WISCHEALTH38
- UW Health employees with emails ending in “.org” – promo code UWHEALTH38
- UW System employees with a “@uwsa.edu” email – promo code UWSAEMP
Use the free BCycle app to sign up, find bike stations, and check out a bike. Download the app by searching “Bcycle” in either the app store (iPhones) or Marketplace (Androids).
For more information, see the Madison BCycle website.