Red Bike joins Transit App for easier Cincinnati ‘last-mile’ trips

Red Bike riders can now unlock bicycles, plan multimodal trips and buy bike passes in the same mobile app many Cincinnatians already use to catch the bus.

Red Bike and Metro integrated the bike-share system into the Transit App to make it easier for riders to combine biking and public transit across the Cincinnati region. Users can connect Red Bike accounts within the app, purchase passes, plan trips that combine Metro bus service with bike-share options and view real-time transit and bike availability information in one place.

The partnership aims to improve “first- and last-mile” connections, the often difficult trips between transit stops and riders’ final destinations, according to Red Bike Executive Director Doug McClintock.

“Great cities move best when everything works together, and Cincinnati is moving forward with purpose and collaborative vision,” McClintock said in a statement. “With Red Bike and Metro working in tandem, we’re creating a more connected and convenient transit experience.”

Connecting bus stops, bike stations

Leaders at Metro, operated by the Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority, and the nonprofit Red Bike said growing ridership has increased demand for transportation options that work more seamlessly together.

Riders can now use the Transit App to plan combined Metro and Red Bike trips, purchase bike access directly through the platform, view real-time Metro service updates and locate nearby Red Bike stations and available bicycles.

Detailed instructions are available on Red Bike’s website.

“This is how a connected system should work,” Brandy Jones, SORTA’s chief communications and marketing officer, said in a statement. “By integrating Red Bike into the Transit App, we’re helping riders bridge the first and last mile and making the entire trip easier and more accessible.”