Social leasing emerges as next focus for bike share sector

Social leasing programmes are emerging as a key area of focus for Europe’s bike-sharing sector as operators look for new ways to encourage long-term cycling adoption.

The trend was highlighted during a discussion organised by European Cycling Industries (ECI), where industry representatives argued that while bike share remains an important gateway to cycling, longer-term leasing models could help convert occasional riders into regular users.

Nick Brown, Head of Consulting at Haveconsult, pointed to the rapid growth of social leasing schemes in France, where subsidised programmes are helping residents access bicycles over extended periods.

“It’s something that has been developed in France, following the automotive industry example,” he said. “There are currently around 150,000 bikes in France already applied on social leasing schemes, subsidised schemes where people get access to an electric bike, which then helps deliver the behaviour change that you need to convert people to bicycle users.”

Brown said social leasing could help move people from trying cycling to using bicycles more regularly.

“Bike share might just give someone their first ride and then their introduction to cycling,” he said. “Social leasing is that real tool that helps deliver the behaviour change programmes.”

The concept is attracting growing interest across the industry. Jhon Alexander Ramirez, Public Affairs Manager at nextbike, identified social leasing as one of three major developments he expects to shape the future of bike sharing.

The others are the regionalisation of schemes and increasing fleet diversity as operators seek to serve a broader range of journeys and users.

“We are now talking about cargo bikes, tricycles and other special vehicles that are adapted to the needs of our population,” Ramirez said.

He also highlighted the growing importance of integrating bike sharing with wider transport systems.

“We really consider it as a clear solution and a clear element to complement public transit in cities and regions,” he said.

Alongside new operating models, speakers stressed that investment remains essential if cities want bike-share schemes to become a core part of urban mobility networks.

Alessia Di Maio, Public Affairs Manager at Lyft Urban Solutions, questioned whether cities that do not fund bike-share schemes can genuinely claim to prioritise cycling and shared mobility.

“If bike sharing is not publicly funded, whatever the policy document says, that’s not actually a priority for cities,” she said.

Di Maio also argued that successful programmes require dedicated street space and infrastructure to support stronger ridership and integration with wider transport networks.

“Real investments in bike share means dedicated street space, capex investment that drives stronger ridership, modal integration, transit integration,” she said.

The discussion suggests that while expanding bike-share networks remains important, industry leaders increasingly see longer-term access to bicycles, stronger public transport integration and continued infrastructure investment as key opportunities for growing cycling uptake.

For proponents of social leasing, the goal is not simply to increase bike-share ridership, but to encourage more people to make cycling a regular part of their daily travel habits.

Main image: Jerome Cid | Dreamstime.com