Nathan Bolender has enjoyed using Red Bikes for more than a decade, riding from his home in Covington to Cincinnati.
The nonprofit station-based bike-sharing system is so important to him that when he looked to buy a house, having a Red Bike station nearby was on his list of necessities, he said.
He found a Red Bike station in 2014 at Roebling Point. His adoration has continued ever since.
“I was just really excited because I have my own bikes, and I like to bike around,” Bolender said. He added that having bike rental stations has made him feel less anxious about locking up his own bike.
“Taking a Red Bike eliminates that worry and anxiety, and it’s just super easy to get around,” he said.
Red Bike has announced a strong start to 2026, citing record-setting ridership.
Through the first quarter of the year, Red Bike delivered 23,336 rides, marking a 62.5% increase over last year and a 57.7% increase over 2023, which was the strongest ridership year in the organization’s history.
Bolender said he credits Red Bike as a big reason why the city’s roads are becoming more bike-friendly.
“Having [cyclists] out there gets the drivers more used to having bikes on the road,” he said. “We also have had a lot of infrastructure projects, especially on the Cincinnati side, slowing down traffic and making it a little safer.”
Year-to-date ridership has reached 43,807 trips, up 77% compared to 2023, according to a news release.
“We are seeing real momentum, and it’s exciting,” said Doug McClintock, executive director of Red Bike. “More people are choosing Red Bike for transportation, for recreation and for connection. It’s a great reminder of how joyful and practical biking can be, and we’re proud to be part of that experience across the region.”
In 2023, Red Bike nearly shut down after UC Health chose not to renew its sponsorship, McClintock said.
“That put a big hole in our budget,” McClintock told CityBeat. “In 2024, my board wanted to shut the whole thing down.”
Bolender said the idea of a shutdown was disappointing. He was inspired to be a part of saving it.
“There was a big campaign to bring them back, and I was kind of trying to support that,” Bolender said.
He said he sent an email to Councilman Mark Jeffreys, who stepped up to help find city funding.
“I told him, it’s really important for the city,” Bolender said. “A lot of people rely on it to get to work. It’s also used by a lot of tourists who come downtown, like by the river. And getting rid of it would really be a step backward.”
In 2024, a “Coalition of the Willing” was formed to provide temporary financial support to Red Bike, according to a 2025 news release on the organization’s website. A year later, Red Bike’s funding partners announced a three-year Strengthen and Sustain Plan, including a strategy and governance restructure.
The plan connected private corporations and city funds to build a base of support.
“It proved that it wasn’t a terrible business plan,” McClintock said. “It was just transit, and that doesn’t make a lot of money.”
McClintock said the first year of the Strengthen and Sustain Plan has been going well.
He credited a larger supply of bikes and better servicing. He also said metros like Cincinnati should have bike-share programs.
“Ride share at large is a transit multiplier,” McClintock said. “It’s a connector — a common term in the industry is ‘first mile, last mile.'”
He added that Red Bike helps people complete their journey after a bus ride, for instance.
Red Bike operates more than 70 stations throughout the region and maintains a fleet composed of 75% e-bikes, enabling members and users to travel throughout the community for work, health, recreation and more, a news release said.
“Being able to have micromobility is important in a metro,” McClintock said. “There are times when driving or walking is not the best solution. Red Bike helps people fill that gap.”
This year, Red Bike is making behind-the-scenes investments to ensure the system keeps pace with its growth, according to a news release. Red Bike is partnering with Urban Sharing, a global bikeshare technology provider based in Oslo, Norway, to implement a new operational software platform designed to enhance system management, improve data visibility and support more efficient day-to-day operations.
“These investments are about making sure the system is not only growing, but operating at a high level every day,” McClintock said. “We’re building a system that is dependable, responsive and ready for what’s next.”