In recent years, Blue-bike has invested heavily in expanding the network.
Bicycle sharing system Blue-bike was able to close 2022 in style with more than 300.000 rides and more than 30.000 members. Never before has there been so much cycling. With this record year, the mobility player proves that the shared bicycle is becoming increasingly important in our journeys and forms an essential connection to public transport.
According to the press release, skyrocketing fuel prices caused many people to rethink their mobility choices. The car stayed in the garage more often and affordable alternatives were sought. The combination of public transport and the shared bicycle turned out to be even cheaper last year than it already was. This 'modal shift' was clearly felt at Blue-bike. Never before has there been so much cycling and thousands of commuters counted on Blue-bike every time to reach their final destination.
more than 300.000 rides
“Unseen,” adds Stefaan Butaye, general manager Blue bike, last year together. “Between January 1 and December 31, a bicycle was borrowed no fewer than 300.504 times. We can proudly look back on a real record year, in which we recorded 53 percent more journeys compared to the previous year. It's been a fantastic twelve months, culminating in October. At that time almost 33.000 bicycles were borrowed. Many thanks go to our loyal members, many of them from the first year. Also to our more than 6000 new members who gave us their confidence and exchanged a bit of the comfort of the car for a healthier, more sustainable but also more productive way of getting there.”
In recent years, Blue-bike has invested heavily in expanding the network and opened dozens of new rental locations at stations and bus stops. The bicycle sharing system can now reap the benefits of this. Stefaan Butaye: “Over the past two years, our focus has been on opening new locations. We have grown from 68 locations in 2020 to 110 locations in 2022. It is our ambition to make all cities and municipalities accessible via an intricate bicycle sharing network that connects to public transport, accessible to everyone.”
Ethias: reliable partner on the road
In addition, Blue-bike can also count on the support of Ethias. The insurer not only provides free bicycle assistance for Blue-bike members with a breakdown, but also wants to get more people on their bicycles. For example, a joint campaign was launched during Mobility Week in September in which free Blue bike memberships were distributed.
In recent years, Ethias has increasingly focused on sustainability. By 2030, Ethias itself will be completely CO² neutral, with brand new passive offices, the use of green electricity, electric vehicles and so on. The fact that there are more and more Blue-bike locations to offer an environmentally friendly alternative to the car is something that the sustainable insurer can only applaud.
About Blue bike
The bicycle sharing project Blue-bike was started in 2011 with the aim of facilitating the combination of public transport and bicycle. In 2023, Blue-bike will have 110 locations. Blue-Mobility (with shareholders De Lijn, Fiets&Werk and OWT) rents out Blue-bikes to more than 30.000 members. Users can borrow a Blue-bike at all locations with a Blue-bike card or via a 'Mobility-as-a-service' platform such as Olympus Mobility. At a number of locations, members can also borrow bicycles with a 'smart lock' (via app, Mobib or membership card).
