Vienna takes over bike rental scheme from private operator

Vienna’s municipal transport authority Wiener Linien is taking over the management of the city’s fixed-station bikeshare scheme after the previous operator, outdoor advertising company Gewista, shut half of the 121 stations due to financial issues.

The closed stations will be re-opened when legal details for the contract, which will last for at least ten years, are finalised.

Vienna's mayor, Michael Ludwig, said he had taken the decision in order to avert the threat of the bike scheme being closed altogether.

"As a public mobility service provider of the City of Vienna, I have commissioned the Wiener Linien to restore the operation of the entire Citybike network as soon as possible ...