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News media contact:
Dylan Rivera
503-577-7534
dylan.rivera@portlandoregon.gov
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PBOT and Lyft announce BIKETOWN fleet expansion to 2,000 e-bikes
 Commissioner Mapps and representatives of Nike and Lyft arrived at the news conference riding BIKETOWN bikes. All photos by Jason Hill for BIKETOWN.
BIKETOWN fleet grows by 33%
To celebrate Earth Day, BIKETOWN will feature free rides on Saturday, April 22, specially branded bikes, and a new BIKETOWN station made with Nike Grind
(April 21, 2023) In advance of Earth Day, the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT), Lyft and Nike announced a 33% expansion of the BIKETOWN fleet that will add 500 bikes, for a total 2,000.
About 200 new e-bikes (electric-assist bicycles) will be available immediately, and the fleet is expected to reach its full size over the summer. Building on the service area expansion in January 2022, the addition of these bikes is intended to keep up with the ever-growing demand for bike-share. In 2022, BIKETOWN hit an all-time record of more than 575,000 rides, an increase of 65% from the year before, and is already on-track to top that record in 2023.
BIKETOWN, Portland’s beloved bike-share system known for its ubiquitous orange e-bikes, is a partnership between founding partner and title sponsor, Nike, and Lyft, the largest bike share operator in the nation, and PBOT, the steward of the city's transportation system.
At the press conference announcing today’s expansion, the program featured a brand-new BIKETOWN station made with Nike Grind material, featuring 25% Nike Grind rubber from Nike’s footwear manufacturing scraps in the top layer of the mats. To celebrate Earth Day, Nike is offering the public a free BIKETOWN ride on Saturday, April 22, and has partnered with Lyft to add 30 Earth Day bikes to the system that depict some beloved local landmarks.
Transportation Commissioner Mingus Mapps celebrated the expansion in Downtown Portland at the Urban Plaza at Portland State University.
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"This BIKETOWN fleet expansion starts immediately," Mapps said. "I'm determined to help Downtown Portland recover from pandemic. Our public-private partnership with BIKETOWN, and the expansion last year into North Portland and East Portland, will help some of the hardest hit areas of our community post-pandemic. It will help everyone experience the joys of biking, for generations to come."
“You’re going to feel this change! This substantial expansion of the BIKETOWN fleet means it will be easier than ever to find a bike and get where you need to go,” said Lyft General Manager for BIKETOWN Kanika Agrawal. “Through BIKETOWN, Lyft offers Portlanders an active, sustainable way to commute, connect, and get outdoors. We want to thank the City of Portland and our sponsor Nike for their partnership as we continue to grow BIKETOWN, making it more robust and accessible.”
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“BIKETOWN is a pinnacle example of Nike’s purpose – to level the playing field, do our part to help protect our planet, and expand access to sport and movement for everyone,” said Nike’s Senior Director of North America Social & Community Impact, Matt Geschke. “Since 2016, BIKETOWN has encouraged people to move more in their everyday lives, and to increase sustainable transportation options for everyone. And on Earth Day tomorrow, we’ll celebrate the future with even more opportunities and reasons for Portlanders to ride.”
"Through our ongoing partnership, we've provided affordable access to the BIKETOWN system for thousands of PSU students, generating over 500,000 miles of bicycle trips," said Ian Stude, transportation manager for Portland State University. "BIKETOWN continues to play a critical role in providing sustainable, healthy transportation choices for our community."
 Three speakers at the press conference were Matt Geschke of Nike, Commissioner Mapps and Kanika Agrawal of Lyft. They gathered for a photo with the Earth Day bikes after the press conference. Photo by Jason Hill for BIKETOWN.
BIKETOWN's growing ridership stems from the rising popularity of its 100% e-bike fleet, the growth of the service area and the expansion of BIKETOWN for All. This bike-share equity program serves Portlanders living on low incomes, including but not limited to people who qualify for the Oregon Health Plan or a TriMet honored citizen pass, high school students, and college students that qualify for financial aid. BIKETOWN for All members rode the e-bikes more than 200,000 times in 2022, accounting for about 35% of all rides.
In January 2022, BIKETOWN expanded its service area by more than 25%, to include the St. Johns in North Portland and significant additional areas of East Portland.
About BIKETOWN
BIKETOWN is Portland’s bikeshare system, launched on July 19, 2016, with 1,000 bikes available to ride from one point to another for a small fee. BIKETOWN is now composed of 1,500 electric pedal-assist bicycles serving a 41 square mile service area, including portions of East Portland. BIKETOWN is a partnership between the City of Portland’s Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) and Nike, the program’s founding partner and sole title sponsor. BIKETOWN is operated by Lyft, the world’s leading bikeshare operator. Using either the Lyft or BIKETOWN app, riders can easily find, rent, and park a BIKETOWN bike. BIKETOWN is designed to be affordable and accessible, encouraging even more Portlanders to ride and allowing visitors to experience the city by bike. biketownpdx.com
About PBOT
The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) is the steward of the city’s transportation system and a community partner in shaping a livable city. We plan, build, manage, and maintain an effective and safe transportation system that provides access and mobility. portland.gov/transportation
About NIKE, Inc.
NIKE, Inc., headquartered in Beaverton, Oregon, is the world's leading designer, marketer and distributor of authentic athletic footwear, apparel, equipment and accessories for a wide variety of sports and fitness activities. Converse, a wholly-owned NIKE, Inc. subsidiary brand, designs, markets and distributes athletic lifestyle footwear, apparel and accessories. For more information, NIKE, Inc.’s earnings releases and other financial information are available on the Internet at https://investors.nike.com/. Individuals can also visit https://about.nike.com/ and follow NIKE on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube.
About Lyft
Lyft was founded in 2012 by Logan Green and John Zimmer to improve people’s lives with the world’s best transportation, and is available to 95 percent of the United States population as well as select cities in Canada. Lyft is committed to effecting positive change for our cities and making cities more livable for everyone through initiatives that bridge transportation gaps, and by promoting transportation equity through shared rides, bikeshare systems, electric scooters, and public transit partnerships. Lyft
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