Zagreb's Bike-Share System 'Bajs' Celebrates First Anniversary Amidst High Demand and Availability Issues

Zagreb's public bike-share system, 'Bajs,' marks its first anniversary with impressive usage statistics, yet faces persistent challenges with bike availability at key locations. Since its launch a year ago with 2,000 bikes, the system has seen daily rides surge past 12,000, with users covering over 23,000 kilometers on peak days. This high demand underscores the system's popularity and its integration into the daily lives of Zagreb's residents.

However, the success is tempered by significant availability issues. Data reveals that some stations, like Perkovčeva ulica, have been without bikes nearly half the time over the past week. Other high-traffic locations, including the Sljeme cable car station and Trg Republike Hrvatske, also suffer from frequent shortages, indicating a need for better redistribution or capacity management.

In response to the overwhelming demand and identified shortcomings, the city is preparing for 'Bajs 2.0.' This next phase includes a 50% expansion of the bike fleet, adding another thousand bicycles, and increasing the number of stations from 180 to 196. User terms are also being updated, extending the included ride time per subscription from 30 to 45 minutes and reducing the mandatory break between rides from 30 to 20 minutes.

Additionally, a pilot project for cargo bikes is planned for four locations. These bikes are intended for carrying larger items, children, or shopping, further diversifying the system's utility. The city aims to strategically adjust station locations based on usage data and citizen feedback, ensuring the system evolves to meet the community's needs.

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We had up to 10,000 rentals per day, which shows that we are very satisfied with how the system is being used, and I believe that with new improvements, interest will be even greater.