NABSA (North American Bikeshare and Scootershare Association) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the shared micromobility industry, bringing together public, private, and nonprofit sectors to empower and inspire each other. The event was packed with insights and takeaways on how micromobility—like bikeshares and scooters—continues to evolve alongside traditional transit systems.

This year, Jawnt had the pleasure of sponsoring the NABSA 2024 conference. The best part? The conference was right here in our home city of Philadelphia, just two blocks from our office in historic Suburban Station.

At Jawnt, we are transit enthusiasts. We love buses and trains, but we’re also passionate about bikeshares (check out our partnership with Indego in Philly), scooters, rideshares, and any other means of reducing single-occupancy vehicle trips. This conference deepened our understanding of how micromobility is being increasingly integrated with public transit to create smoother, more efficient urban transportation.

So, are bikeshares transit?

It’s an important question we explored throughout NABSA 2024. The consensus? They should be. More and more cities are weaving micromobility options into the fabric of their transit systems. In fact, many bikeshares are already designed to complement public transit, and the examples we heard at the conference highlighted how this partnership is a win-win for everyone.

Multi-modal transit is growing

In a recent Jawnt blog, Jason Karas from Unagi Scooters noted that most of their scooter users are engaging in multi-modal transit, often using scooters to reach public transportation hubs. At NABSA, we heard similar stories. Here are just a few of the innovative approaches we learned about:

• Kansas City: At RideKC Bike, 40% of bikeshare hubs are co-located with public transit stops. About one-third of riders transfer between bikeshare and bus or streetcar, and 64% of bikeshare trips end within one block of a bus or streetcar stop. This seamless connection makes it easy for people to switch between transportation modes.
• Vancouver: In Metro Vancouver, the city’s bikeshare program is deeply integrated with its transit system TransLink. With buses facing overcrowding and budget challenges, the transit agency sees opportunities for more commuters to opt for bikes instead. This shift frees up bus space for riders with disabilities, making transit more accessible while saving the city money.
• Fort Worth: Fort Work Bike Sharing was a concept started out of the Fort Worth Transportation Authority, known as Trinity Metro). Integrating the bike share with public transit was essential to creating a sustainable model that supports both transit options.
• Temporary micromobility hubs: Some cities are setting up temporary bike and scooter hubs based on demand—for instance, placing them near concert venues or summer beach destinations to accommodate large crowds. This flexibility is great for encouraging micromobility.

Integrating bikeshare with public transit is about more than just convenience—it’s about expanding access for everyone. Cities are making this easier by incorporating bikeshare options into apps like Transit App or city-specific transit platforms, allowing users to plan and pay for all parts of their journey in one place. Co-branding between transit agencies and bikeshare companies further highlights how these systems work together seamlessly. And at Jawnt, we help organizations offer bikeshare benefits right alongside traditional pre-tax transit and parking benefits, making it easier for employees to choose sustainable, multi-modal commuting options.

NABSA 2024 underscored that bikeshares are a crucial part of the transit landscape—and they’re here to stay. By continuing to integrate them with buses, trains, and streetcars, we can create more flexible, accessible, and sustainable cities for everyone.