OaklandTransportation & Infrastructure

'Ford GoBike' Sharing Launches Today In San Francisco, East Bay

'Ford GoBike' Sharing Launches Today In San Francisco, East BayFord GoBikes outside San Francisco City Hall. | Photo: Ford GoBike
Teresa Hammerl
Published on June 28, 2017

As we reported last month, the Bay Area Bike Share program is rebranding to Ford GoBike and adds 2,000 bikes to San Francisco and 1,500 bikes to the East Bay to be available for commuters this summer.

The rebranding kicked off today with a public celebration on the plaza across from the Ferry Building in San Francisco. By Labor Day, Ford GoBike plans to offer 3,500 new bicycles at 332 stations.

“Ford GoBike makes this mode of transportation a safe, accessible and convenient option for residents and communities across San Francisco," San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee said in statement. 

According to a press release, the program will bring 7,000 bikes in total to 546 stations in San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose, Berkeley and Emeryville by next year.

Riders will also be able to pay for and unlock bikes using Clipper cards or with a GoBike mobile app. Motivate, the company that runs the platform behind the program, also makes a day pass available, which will make it easier for tourists to use the program.

Yesterday, the Examiner reported that Ford pulled a previously announced GoPass, which would have allowed unlimited three-hour trips during a one-day period. The pass led to an outcry from other local bike rental companies, which feared they could not compete with it.

Transportation officials have now also halted funding for the program. The San Francisco County Transportation Authority Board voted yesterday against granting $255,000. That could lead to a substantial delay of the program expansion, the Examiner adds.

To see if GoBikes will be coming to your neighborhood, visit its system map.

San Francisco GoBike stations. | Image: Ford GoBike
OaklandTransportation & Infrastructure