Updates to Bay Wheels Pricing
Whether you’re a daily commuter or a weekend explorer, the way you move through the Bay Area just got a bit more flexible. Starting January 20, 2026, Bay Wheels rolled out a major update to its Single Ride fare structure.
While price changes can sometimes feel like a hurdle, this new model is actually a win for the most common types of trips: the quick dash to BART, the cross-town errand, and the "first-mile/last-mile" connection.
The New Math: Less to Start, More to Scale
The biggest shift is the dramatic reduction in the "barrier to entry." By slashing the unlock fee by 75%, short trips are now significantly more affordable.
The Big Takeaway: Under the old system, you paid a minimum of $3.99 even if you only rode for 2 minutes. Now, your ride cost scales better with the length of your trip. If your trip is under 15 minutes (which over ⅔ of single rides on ebikes and over ½ of single rides on classic bikes are), you’re saving money with this change.
Most bikeshare trips are shorter than people realize—especially when connecting to transit.
Here’s how the new pricing works in your favor for typical Bay Area routes:
- The "BART Dash" (5-Minute Classic Ride)
The Route: From your front door to the 24th St. Mission BART station.
Old Price: $3.99
New Price: $1.00 (Unlock) + $0.95 (5 mins @ $0.19) = $1.95
Total Savings: $2.04 (Over 50% off!) - The "Caltrain Connection" (10-Minute E-Bike Ride)
The Route: From SoMa to the 4th & King Caltrain Station.
Old Price: $3.99 (Unlock) + $3.00 (10 mins @ $0.30) = $6.99
New Price: $1.00 (Unlock) + $4.90 (10 mins @ $0.49) = $5.90
Total Savings: $1.09 - The "Quick Errand" (8-Minute Classic Ride)
The Route: Grabbing a coffee or hitting the pharmacy 12 blocks away.
Old Price: $3.99
New Price: $1.00 (Unlock) + $1.52 (8 mins @ $0.19) = $2.52
Total Savings: $1.47
Is it still the right choice for you? Best for Short Trips: If you use Bay Wheels for quick 5-to-15 minute bursts to get to transit or to make sure you arrive on time when you’re in a rush, this change is a massive discount.
For Longer Commutes: If you regularly ride for more than 20 minutes, a Bay Wheels Membership remains the gold standard, offering free unlocks and significantly lower per-minute rates. More info on membership and sign up link is available here.
The goal of this new pricing is to make bikeshare a more seamless extension of our transit system—more affordable to use on a whim and flexible enough to pay only for the time you actually use.