Prague launches a free bike sharing pilot for transit pass holders

On 11 October 2021, the city of Prague launched a pilot project offering free use of shared bikes to holders of the Lítačka pass, Prague’s electronic public transport card. The bikes can be used within the city for 15-minute time periods up to four times a day.

With the new mobility service, Prague aims to motivate people to use public transport and other sustainable modes of mobility. Cycling has increased significantly in Prague during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is hoped this trend will continue and structurally increase the modal share of cycling in the post-pandemic era.

Adam Scheinherr, Deputy Mayor and Transport Councilor, stated: "We want to make it easier for people to make the first and last mile of their journey through Prague, and make the Lítačka pass even more attractive. Bikes and public transport are not competing, on the contrary, they can complement each other perfectly when we need to get quickly to a metro station, for example, or to get home from public transport.” 

"By combining these two sustainable modes of transport in Prague, we want to motivate people to use public transport even more and offer them an even more comfortable and faster way, even in places where public transport does not offer such frequent intervals," adds Petr Tomčík, Director of the Prague Transit Authority, ROPID.

Several cities across Europe have successfully integrated (shared) bikes, both e-bikes and conventional ones, into the offer of transport services. The city administration is convinced this can be done in Prague as well and that the bicycles are a useful addition to the city's transport system. During the pilot project, Lítačka pass holders will be able to use bicycles from shared bike operators Rekola or Nextbike, free of charge, for 15-minute time periods up to four times a day.

To use the bikes, Lítačka cards holders should download the mobile app for one of the two shared bike services offered in Prague: Rekola and Nextbike. First, rental users will have to link their bike-sharing app account with their user account in the Lítačka system. Detailed instructions can be found on the website of Prague Integrated Transport.

The pilot project will run throughout the autumn of 2021, but no specific end date has been communicated yet. The city will evaluate the use of this service and decide on the form of its permanent involvement in the Prague integrated transport system.