In brief
Addis Bike, launched in August 2024, has quadrupled its fleet to 100 bicycles and logged more than 35,000 sign‑ups and 51,720 trips. The expansion is enabled by new bike lanes and a national policy favoring non‑motorised transport, though challenges in public awareness and docking infrastructure remain.
In an interview from his office in Addis Ababa, chief technical officer Yeabsera Yismashewa described how Addis Bike’s rollout of 100 bicycles since its August 2024 launch has seen the service record over 35,311 sign‑ups and 51,720 trips, with an average ride of 30 minutes. The company, Ethiopia’s first station‑to‑station bike‑sharing operator, was founded to meet the city’s growing demand for short‑distance travel.
Yismashewa said the city’s government‑led expansion of dedicated bike lanes has fueled the service’s popularity. Addis Bike now operates along selected routes, offering a convenient, technology‑backed alternative to taxis and buses during busy morning hours.
“We have seen a growing number of people using the bike‑sharing service in the city,” Yismashewa told Xinhua. “We want to offer an alternative transportation service that combines convenience, technology, and environmental friendliness.”
He added that the new infrastructure has redirected commuters that previously relied on motorised transport. “Many daily journeys in the city cover relatively short distances, yet people often spend considerable time and money to reach their destinations,” Yismashewa explained.
For students, the service has proved both flexible and economical. Eyoas Girma, a university student who uses the bikes to commute, highlighted the difficulty of finding a taxi early in the day. “These days, it is very difficult to get a taxi during morning hours. I prefer to ride the bike to school,” he said, noting that the service’s cost of 95 Ethiopian birr for a 30‑minute ride—roughly 0.6 U.S. dollars—offers an attractive alternative.
The company’s digital fleet management system uses GPS tracking and a smart‑lock mechanism to monitor each bike’s status and location. This data is used to ensure bikes remain within designated lanes and to detect misuse. The reported ride pricing follows a per‑minute model, with the base fare representing a half‑hour trip.
Despite rapid growth, Addis Bike’s leaders acknowledge challenges that could slow further adoption. The service has struggled with low public awareness, insufficient docking stations, and ingrained travel habits that favor taxis and buses. “Established travel habits, low public awareness, and insufficient parking and docking stations remain a challenge to the business,” Yismashewa said.
Government officials indicate that the expansion of bike lanes is part of a broader policy to promote non‑motorised and electric transport across the country. By embedding stations along key routes, the state seeks to make bicycle travel a more viable and environmentally friendly option for residents.
Looking ahead, the company aims to broaden its reach beyond the initially selected routes, potentially adding more docking points and enhancing marketing efforts to raise awareness. The company’s leadership hopes that the growing acceptance of biking will encourage even more Ethiopians to embrace sustainable travel solutions.
