Budapest MOL Bubi: Pilot Extends Service to February
- 22 Dec 2025 6:49 AM
Budapest's MOL Bubi bike-sharing system won't vanish during the holidays. The current setup ends officially on December 23, but a pilot program keeps the green bikes available until mid-February. Starting December 24, grab a MOL Bubi Pilot pass for HUF 500 (about €1.30). It covers 30-minute rides and stays valid through February 15, no matter when you buy it—solid value for quick winter trips around the city.
No Full Stop Despite Contract End
The second-generation MOL Bubi has run since 2021 under the Csepel–Nextbike consortium, whose deal expires December 23.
Earlier worries about procurement delays scrapping the service entirely didn't pan out. Budapest's transport authority, BKK, negotiated a bridge period to maintain availability while prepping Bubi 3.0, the next major upgrade. The city assembly debated this multiple times; a tender launched but got reworked in October, and by November, continuity won out over a shutdown.
What's Different in the Pilot Phase?
Expect adjustments for winter. The fleet shrinks to about half size due to lower demand and weather. Pay-as-you-go users must re-register bank cards in the MOL Bubi app. In District VI (Terézváros), you can now pick up and drop off bikes at 168 Mobi Points alongside e-scooters—these shared spots help BKK study local riding patterns. Anonymized data from here will shape Bubi 3.0, including better ties to other micromobility options.
Path to a Bigger Network
BKK expects to ink the new contract soon, with bikes possibly rolling out in six months—or sooner. Bubi 3.0 brings at least 5,000 new bikes, including 1,000 e-bikes, for broader appeal. Coverage grows to outer spots like Örs vezér Square, Kőbánya-Kispest, Újpest-Városkapu, Angyalföld, Zugló, József Attila housing estate, and Őrmező, plus key hubs and metro stations.
A Staple of City Life
Since 2014, MOL Bubi has woven into Budapest's transport mix. Post-2021 refresh, rentals hit 14 million over four years, logging 31 million kilometers. This pilot keeps wheels turning through winter, bridging to a more expansive setup in 2025.
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