Note: This is part of a series to highlight the great work being done throughout the region by WAY TO GO Partners.
In 2024, RideKC Bike celebrated its 12th year of service with record-high ridership and new infrastructure investments to enhance accessibility and reliability. As electric bike usage continues to surge and integration with public transit strengthens, RideKC Bike is proving that bike-sharing isn’t just a recreational amenity—it’s a vital transportation option.
2024 Performance
- Despite having 14% less average daily bikes in service across the metro in 2024 due to the retirement of fleet bikes and batteries and increased theft and vandalism rates, utilization demand rates for electric bikes increased by 8% and just over 2% for bikes overall across the metro.
- Kansas City, Missouri and the City of North Kansas City, Missouri again marked back-to-back years of double-digit growth in electric bike utilization.
- More than 8,500 unique users took 47,351 total trips, riding 102,000 miles around the region.
- Forty percent of trips started or ended near transit stops with 30% of riders using other public transit types like streetcar or the bus.
- Thirty-four percent of survey respondents said they would have driven alone for their trips if they had not used RideKC Bike.
For more about RideKC Bike’s 2024 performance, refer to their 2024 Annual Report.
New batteries installed
At the end of 2024, RideKC Bike acquired and installed new batteries on most of the RideKC Bike fleet.
“These new batteries are 40% more efficient than the old batteries,” says BikeWalkKC Development & Communications Manager Liz Harris. “It had been a long time since our bikes got an equipment upgrade, and batteries are a consumable part. Eventually they wear out. In 2024, we were in the tough position of having more bikes than batteries. With the battery upgrade we were able to put more bikes on the road. You can really feel the extra pep!”
New user fees
Early in 2025, RideKC Bike introduced a $2 convenience fee for bikes that are not locked to one of the designated hubs (marked on the app with orange blocks).
“Our hope with the parking fees is that that there will be bikes at the hubs where people need them to be,” says Harris. “This also helps prevent vandalism. When bikes are not locked up or in a highly visible space, they are more likely to be vandalized and get out of service while we repair them or replace them. When bikes are at hubs, they’re less likely to be stolen or vandalized.”
Bike Wrangler Program
RideKC Bike also introduced its new Bike Wrangler program in 2025. Bike Wranglers are existing RideKC Bike Monthly Members who can earn a free Monthly Membership by returning RideKC Bikes parked Out-of-Hub to designated RideKC Bike hubs.
How does it work? A Bike Wrangler receives one point after every out-of-hub bike they return to a hub. By earning 20 points in a calendar month, a Bike Wrangler qualifies for a free month’s membership that is redeemable for the subsequent month
Looking ahead
With demand on the rise for residents, as well as large events such as the World Cup, RideKC Bike staff is working on plans for expansion to help increase service availability. Stay tuned for announcements in 2025 for more bikes and service areas throughout Greater Kansas City.
RideKC Bike is a public/private/nonprofit partnership between BikeWalkKC; KC Area Transportation Authority; the Aspiria campus in Overland Park; the Cities of Kansas City, MO; Kansas City, KS; North Kansas City, MO; and Lenexa, KS.
To learn more about RideKC Bike visit their website or download the app (available on iOS and Android) to start riding today.
