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Drift outlines growth, North Side expansion and new app features for La Crosse bike-share
Summary
Drift told the La Crosse Bicycle & Pedestrian Committee it saw growth through 2025, reported 6,331 trips and 1,391 users in 2025, plans a North Side expansion of 25–30 bikes plus 10 additional bikes at new stations, and will add live MTU map integration, reservations and dynamic pricing.
Drift representatives updated the Bicycle & Pedestrian Committee on the bike-share’s recent performance and plans for the 2026 season. Drift staff said the system recorded 6,331 trips and 1,391 users in 2025, added 17 bikes and moved trays from Chad Erickson Park to Myrick Park, and launched short trials at new sites including the La Crosse Center and Viterbo.
"We love flowers by our bikes," the presenter said, describing outreach and community programming that accompany the bike network. Staff credited internships and local partnerships for outreach: Drift ran 55 events and promotions in 2025, hosted 23 community outreach events and operated 13 hosted rides, while interns managed volunteers, marketing and social-media content.
Drift previewed equipment and service changes: a Climate Action Grant helped fund custom wide bikes built for shorter and younger riders (coaster-brake, three-speed), five new stations and a total of 25–30 bikes focused on the city’s North Side. The presenter said additional stations will go near the La Crosse bike bridge and in the Crescent area and that the app provider will allow live MTU integration so users can see individual-bike availability in real time. "So right now, we offer a first free ride and then half off for all sponsorship groups," a presenter said when describing pricing and sponsor discounts; staff also proposed testing a first 30-minute free period for short trips.
Other planned features include multi-day and full-day reservations for visitors, dynamic pricing for targeted discounts (for example, half-off during lunch hours), and frequent-rider rewards to encourage repeat use. Staff emphasized sponsorship-based operations to preserve a high proportion of free rides and said trip ratings remain strong (reported 4.6 out of 5 under the new app). Drift asked the committee for sponsor leads and said it will target outreach and station placement on the North Side in collaboration with city staff.
