Starting in November, the City of Ghent will open new licenses for shared bike providers as current permits expire. The city aims to double the number of rides from approximately 1.25 million last year to 2.5 million by 2030.
Two providers will have the opportunity to offer shared bikes within Ghent's territory starting next year. One license will be for regular bikes and another for electric ones. Each provider will be allowed to offer more bikes than currently, with a maximum of 1,250 units each, totaling 500 more bikes than are currently available in Ghent.
A new requirement is that providers must ensure a minimum number of shared bikes in each district, guaranteeing availability for every Ghent resident. A minimum number is also mandated for certain other locations, such as P+R facilities or business parks. For specific districts, a maximum number will be set to prevent nuisance.
Shared bikes are seen as a lever for sustainable mobility, a means to combat transport poverty, and contribute to space-saving by reducing private bike ownership.
“"Shared bikes are a lever for sustainable mobility, a means to combat transport poverty, and are space-saving as private bike ownership decreases."
The number of rides with shared bikes continues to rise, from 242,000 in 2022 to 1.24 million in 2025. This year, an increase of 22 percent was already recorded in the first eight months, suggesting the figure of 1.5 million rides will likely be reached this year.
In Mariakerke and Wondelgem, where the offering has been expanded, the increase is most significant. The number of rides there has risen by 48 and 57 percent, respectively, compared to a year earlier.
