The 200th public bike station is ready
Budapest has taken another small but important step towards a more sustainable urban lifestyle. During Mobility Week, the number of MOL Bubi stations exceeded 200.
BKK has expanded the MOL Bubi network to four new locations for the European Mobility Week. As a result, from 21 September 2023, the distinctive green bicycles, favoured by many, will be available at more than 200 locations across the city.
The new stations are all located in the District 9, funded by the municipality:
- Ferenc körút and Mester utca,
- intersection of Haller utca and Mester utca,
- at the corner of Haller utca and Soroksári út, and
- in Nádasdy utca, by the playground.
The new stations of the public bike-sharing system were handed over to the capital's road users at a public press event, where Mayor Gergely Karácsony said: “It is well known that the Municipality of Budapest is committed to the development of sustainable transport and city management does not think of motorists, cyclists, pedestrians or public transport users in particular when planning, but looks at the people of Budapest as city dwellers, and we need to provide them with as many possible and green transport alternatives as possible.” The Mayor thanked the partners, especially the 9th District Municipality, for their cooperation.
Dr. Katalin Walter, CEO of BKK, pointed out that when MOL Bubi was launched, bicycles could only be picked up within the Grand Boulevard, but with the current expansion, the service is now easily accessible almost anywhere along Hungária Boulevard. “Sustainable transport and a sustainable Budapest can only be achieved through many small, coordinated steps. We are moving in the right direction, because months after the renewal of the public bike-sharing system, records are still being set. Most recently, in mid-September, more than 18,000 green bikes were used in a single day. This shows that the people of Budapest are increasingly open to sustainable modes of transport” – added the head of BKK.
”Cycling, including using MOL Bubi bikes, is not only healthy but also beneficial. When cycling, no harmful emissions are generated, which is extremely important in times of climate crisis. Plus, we can get to our destination faster and in a shorter time. In rush hour it is faster than cars or public transport, and within a 5 km range it is almost unbeatable. It makes travelling more flexible, faster, more enjoyable and more fun” – Krisztina Baranyi, Mayor of the 9th district, shared with the audience. The head of the district added: "Cycling is a win-win situation: good for the cyclist and good for the city. I thank all the citizens of Ferencváros for the increasing use of the MOL Bubi and their own bikes.”
Focus on sustainable modes of transport
The European Mobility Week started on 16 September and ended on 22 September with Car-Free Day. The international series of events aims to increase the popularity of sustainable modes of transport and improve the share of environmentally friendly modes of transport worldwide. In addition to classic forms of public transport, cycling is a key part of this, with MOL Bubi, launched in September 2014 and fully revamped in 2021, providing a convenient and economical solution.
Promoting sustainable modes of transport also creates opportunities to create more space for meeting points, green spaces and open-air terraces in our public spaces.