Library System Offers Customers Free Bikeshare Passes, Madison, WI 2021

Library card holders at the Madison Public Library system are now able to get free passes to the city’s bikeshare system, Madison BCycle. All nine branches have two Community Passes, giving customers access to over 300 electric-assist bicycles and more than 50 stations across Madison. Users are allowed to borrow these Community Passes for up to one week at a time and can borrow helmets from the library as well.

This partnership is intended to help low-income and underbanked community members access Madison’s bikeshare system. A 30-minute, monthly, and annual pass to Madison BCycle costs $5, $20, and $120 respectively and requires the use of a credit or debit card or smartphone. The Community Pass gives users an alternative means to borrow these bicycles and the Madison Public Library covers the full cost of the passes. Libraries often provide a wealth of resources and amenities to community members. Providing free bikeshare access to customers is a creative example of how libraries are leveraging their platforms to make communities more equitable.

Last updated September 22, 2021