More MOL Bubi stations to open in the 13th district
BKK Centre for Budapest Transport will add two new stations to the MOL Bubi public bicycle-sharing system from August 2024. The new bike pick-up points will be located in the 13th district, and together they will make a total of 211 stations available to cyclists.
In August this year, BKK will set up new MOL Bubi stations at the Spiral Office Building on Dózsa György út and at the Groupama Green Court Office building in Kassák Lajos utca. The developments at Lőportárdűlő, which were preceded by public consultations, will make the distinctive green bicycles, a favourite of many, available at 211 locations across the city. The installation of the two new stations is being funded by the company through a partnership agreement, with the new pick-up points expected to be available to Bubi users from mid-August.
In addition to implementing its improvements following public consultations, BKK also regularly monitors how many new users an extension will provide with additional transport options. The current development is a long-awaited innovation, as there are a number of office and residential buildings in the area, so MOL Bubi is expected to facilitate the daily commute of many people.
More people are using Bubi bikes every year
The MOL Bubi service has been growing in popularity for years: in 2023, an average of more than 9,000 trips were made on the bikes every day, and on the busiest day of last year (13 September), BKK recorded more than 18,000 trips. This year, an average of more than 10.5 thousand trips were made in the capital in seven months. In May, the company measured a record number of journeys, with more than 450,000 people choosing the BKK service.
A big advantage for cyclists is BKK's BudapestGO app, which makes it easy to plan cycling trips, whether it's a private bike or a MOL Bubi. The route proposed by BudapestGO includes the Bubi stations, shows what traffic to expect (e.g. car-free bike lane), and can also be set to be cycling-friendly and avoid hills.
Most people cycle to work
An earlier survey by BKK showed that the majority of people use public bikes to get to and from work (57%), but many also use MOL Bubi to run errands and make small purchases (49%), and many also cycle for entertainment (40%). Summer leisure destinations are easily accessible by public bike, be it Budapest Park or Dürer Kert, but also Pontoon, the A38 Boat and City Park can be reached quickly and easily by Bubi.
The fleet already includes a total of 2,460 bicycles, which can be used to quickly get anywhere in the city centre in 10-15 minutes at the most, and for longer distances, the service can be flexibly combined with other means of public transport.
The new era of public transport will begin in 2026: with Bubi 3.0, the current fleet will double, and electric bicycles will be available for hire, as well as conventional ones. The new fleet and stations will also offer shared bicycles to people living in neighbourhoods beyond the current service area, such as Örs vezér tere, Kőbánya-Kispest or Újpest-Városkapu neighbourhoods.