The Department of Transportation Services on Sept. 24 updated the City Council committee on operations and financing for Biki, Honolulu’s docked bike‑share system, and proposed steps to stabilize the program and integrate it with the city’s HoloCard payment platform.

Director Roger Morton said Biki operates about 1,200 bikes at roughly 132 stations and has recorded more than 5 million rides since 2017, but the operator’s margins have eroded and vandalism and reduced visitor usage have increased costs. “Biki has started to run into a little bit of a financial problem,” Morton said.

DTS proposes several actions: (1) pursue federal funding to support a periodic fleet‑refurbishment program (DTS estimates a federal match could fund replacement and refurbishing), (2) negotiate a partnership and contract terms with the operator for city purchase of targeted services, and (3) technically integrate Biki payments with HoloCard so regular transit riders can use a single payment credential. Morton said DTS has budgeted $200,000 per quarter for purchased services (about $800,000 annually) while working toward system integration.

Morton said the city already owns about one‑third of the Biki fleet and that a refurbishment plan is needed to keep docks and bicycles operational. He also said vandalism has been a major, concentrated cost driver and that the operator had delayed investment without steady financial support.

Advocacy groups including the Hawaii Bicycling League testified in support of integrating Biki into the public transit system and participating in further planning. Director Morton said DTS aims to have an agreement in place by the end of the calendar year and to pursue HoloCard integration within roughly 12–18 months; a federalized fleet refurbishment program could begin in FY2027.