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CapMetro board approves new bike-share fares, shortens free ride window to 30 minutes
Summary
The CapMetro Board approved new pricing for the agency's bike-share program, including higher unlock fees, a shortened free ride window from 60 to 30 minutes and revised pass prices, to improve the program's financial sustainability and encourage shorter trips. Board members asked staff to monitor student ridership and communicate changes widely.
The Cap Metro Board of Directors on April 21 approved a resolution authorizing the agency to adopt a new bike-share fare structure, with an intended implementation date of Aug. 1, 2025.
Board members and staff said the changes are intended to keep the program financially sustainable after equipment upgrades and to encourage short "check-out-and-return" trips.
Brandy Mueller, CapMetro's director of revenue and fares, told the board the agency has not raised bike-share fares since 2013 and proposed a new pay-as-you-go structure with a $2.50 unlock fee and a 25-cent per-minute charge thereafter. Mueller said the agency would shorten the no-additional-charge ride window from 60 minutes to 30 minutes to encourage users to dock bikes between uses. "We are simply looking to encourage that redocking," Mueller said during the presentation.
Mueller described proposed pass-price adjustments that were included in the board packet: a 1-day pass change from $12.99 to $2.99; a monthly pass increase from $11 to $25; and an annual pass increase from $86.60 to $150. She said the proposed student annual pass would be $75 (a 50% discount off the annual pass) and staff want to expand student-pass eligibility beyond University of Texas affiliates to include community and technical colleges and 18-and-over high school students.
Mueller said the agency's average bike-share trip lasts about 13 minutes, with roughly 76% of trips under 15 minutes and about 88% under 30 minutes; 98% of trips occur within 60 minutes. "Shortening the ride time from 60 minutes to 30 minutes is meant to encourage: check a bike out, go, check it back in in 30 minutes," she said, adding that the change is not intended to "gouge" riders but to better align pricing with how people actually use the system.
President and CEO Donnie Watkins told the board that CapMetro is not seeking bike-share fares to become a revenue generator for the agency but instead to reduce the size of the operating subsidy the system requires. "We are not looking to have this be a revenue generator from CapMetro," Watkins said. "We are talking about financial sustainability in terms of us being able to support ongoing operation and necessary maintenance and supports." Board member Veil asked whether fare revenue will cover maintenance; staff confirmed fares will reduce but not eliminate the need for local subsidies and that the City of Austin shares some operating support.
Board members representing student-heavy districts asked staff to monitor ridership among students after implementation and to ensure clear public communications about the Aug. 1 start date. "My hope is CapMetro can monitor ridership once this is implemented, especially among students," a board member said during the discussion.
The board voted to approve the resolution by voice vote. The chair declared the vote unanimous for those present.
Why it matters: CapMetro operates one of the city's primary shared-micromobility systems. Staff said the changes aim to preserve the program after equipment upgrades while nudging trips toward shorter, more frequent use that eases bike availability for more riders. The board also directed staff to track impacts, particularly on students, and to expand outreach on the changes.
What's next: Staff will enact communications about the Aug. 1 implementation and return ridership and equity monitoring results to the board after the change takes effect.
