At Lyft Urban Solutions, bikeshare is seen not only as a transportation solution but also as a powerful catalyst for larger issues like social equity, economic mobility, and urban sustainability. The organisation is proud to have the opportunity to partner with cities around the world to shape a healthier, more equitable future through world-class station-based bike-share systems that connect communities at every level.


Serve & Connect: Shared values driving Lyft Urban Solutions bikeshare innovation
At the heart of their work lies a simple, yet powerful, commitment to “Serve & Connect.” This purpose defines how Lyft Urban Solutions designs and delivers micromobility systems, placing people, equity, and access at the centre of every piece of hardware and every system. This naturally echoes the vision of Velo-city 2025 and its call to “Energize Solidarity,” recognising the deep potential of bikeshare to bring communities closer, foster inclusion, and spark systemic change.

Through technology and infrastructure, Lyft Urban Solutions empowers its partners to create systems that meet the unique needs of their communities. These systems help bridge gaps between people and opportunity, neighbourhoods and transit, policy and equity.
 

• In Guadalajara (Mexico), the MiBici network features emergency buttons installed at 20 stations, an initiative led by local partners to enhance safety for everyone, especially women and refugees.

 

• In Barcelona (Spain), the Bicing network launched a bicycle mechanics training programme for women in vulnerable situations, equipping them with skills to access employment in the growing micromobility sector.

 

• In Toronto (Canada), the Transit Parking Authority launched a Reduced Fare Programme co-developed with the city and Toronto Community Housing, ensuring that bikeshare remains affordable and accessible for residents navigating economic challenges.

 

• In New York City (United States of America), Citi Bike offers free weekly rides led by trusted community partners. These rides help first-time and hesitant riders, especially in underserved areas, gain confidence on two wheels in a safe, fun and welcoming environment.

These initiatives exemplify how bikeshare can foster more inclusive city centres, highlighting the powerful role it plays when community-led civic action is supported by bikeshare infrastructure.


Electrifying urban mobility: Charging towards the future
At Lyft Urban Solutions, innovation in electrified micromobility goes beyond engineering. It’s about enabling smarter and more welcoming cities. The shift toward e-bikes and charging infrastructure is redefining urban mobility, making it easier for more people to travel longer distances, overcome physical barriers, and integrate cycling into their everyday routines.

The impact is clear in cities like La Coruña (Spain), where the introduction of e-bikes in 2022 has sparked a dramatic transformation. Annual ridership surged from 330,000 in 2023 to more than 1.35 million trips by 2024, while the number of registered users grew more than sixfold, from just 3,000 to over 20,000 year over year. Clearly, when cities offer electric bikeshare options, people are inspired to try bikeshare for the first time and ride more frequently, whether it’s for commuting, errands, or leisure. Simply put, bikeshare electrification drives broader bikeshare adoption.
 
The scalability of electric micromobility hinges on the quality of infrastructure and a long-term strategy to sustainably keep power in the devices. That’s where charging stations make a critical difference. Electrified docks do more than power bikes - they create a smoother, more reliable user experience and reduce operational complexity and impact resulting from van-based battery swaps. The introduction of station-based e-bikes and even e-scooters, along with charging stations, unlocks the full potential of shared micromobility.

In Québec City (Canada), the àVélo system operates with a 100% electric fleet while maintaining 50% of its stations electrified. This setup has enabled the city to completely eliminate battery swapping from daily operations, reducing maintenance and ensuring bikes are always charged and ready to ride. Similarly, in Madrid and Barcelona, fully electrified station networks lessen the need to manually swap out batteries, boosting efficiency while reinforcing sustainability goals.

Even in cities like New York, where Citi Bike currently relies on manual battery swapping, the path forward is becoming clearer. Equipping a network of high-traffic docking stations with charging capabilities can reduce vehicle trips for battery swaps by up to 90%, cutting emissions and unlocking significant operational savings. For the end user, it means a more seamless experience: charged bikes available when and where they’re needed most.
 
The next era of shared mobility
Want to know more about how electrification and infrastructure are shaping the future of bikeshare? Lyft Urban Solutions will be diving deeper into these themes, and more, at Velo-city 2025.

Join Lyft Urban Solutions representatives Caroline Samponaro, Head of External Affairs, and Mylène Tassy, Head of Enterprise and General Manager of Quebec, for the panel discussion: “The Next Decade of Shared Mobility: How Bikeshare Innovation Can Unlock More Benefits for Cities and Riders.”

Together, they’ll unpack a decade of evolution in the bikeshare space, drawing from frontline experiences in cities like New York City, where Citi Bike continues to demonstrate the social and economic power of scaled micromobility, and Zaragoza, Spain where full electrification is already redefining daily mobility.
 

“For me, this work is deeply personal. When we make biking more accessible and more connected, we’re opening doors, for people, for communities, and for cities themselves. That’s what drives us at Lyft Urban Solutions: building systems that people rely on, and that cities can be proud of.”
— Mylène Tassy, Head of Enterprise, Lyft Urban Solutions

Let’s shape the future together in Gdańsk
As a proud partner of Velo-city 2025, Lyft Urban Solutions is excited to be part of the global dialogue shaping the next chapter of urban mobility. Gdańsk will be the meeting point for bold ideas, collaborative spirit, and actionable solutions. They can’t wait to contribute to the conversation during four inspiring days of exchange, innovation, and connection. Together, let’s serve communities and connect people to what matters.