Pittsburgh bike rental platform POGOH has broken a record ridership figure and it has students at the University of Pittsburgh as well as the increase in stations and the number of e-bikes in its fleet to thank for it.
Bike Share Pittsburgh, the nonprofit that manages POGOH, announced that over 200,000 trips have occurred year-to-date in 2023. That's well above the previous record of the more than 124,000 rides that were taken in 2021.
The organization added 22 bike-renting stations this year, bringing its total station count to 60.
These pick-up and drop-off bike renting spots house a total of 600 bikes across the City of Pittsburgh. More than half of these bikes are electric-assist bikes, which kick in an adjustable boost for riders as they pedal.
Bike Share Pittsburgh also said that Pitt students and faculty members are renting bikes on its platform at "unprecedented rates" thanks largely to a partnership between the two entities that has grown over the years. The agreement permits free 30-minute rental sessions to students, staff and faculty members at Pitt. Over 110,000 rides on POGOH bikes in 2023 came from Pitt-related renters, more than half of all rides total.
Furthermore, partnerships that Bike Share Pittsburgh made with Highmark and Allegheny Health Network, Duquesne Light and the City of Pittsburgh have led to the installation of 20 electric charging stations throughout POGOH's footprint, ensure these ebikes can be charged and ready to go between rental uses.
POGOH first began offering ebikes in 2022 and has continued to add more to its fleet ever since.
"Watching new riders jump on a POGOH, confident that a fully charged e-assist bike awaits them at the next station, reinforces our conviction in a more sustainable, less congested, and fun, mobility future," David White, executive director at POGOH, said in a statement.
