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Now Available at UCSC: BCycle E-Bike Share

BCycle e-bike sharing provides Santa Cruz County residents and visitors with a convenient, fun, and affordable way to get around the County.

As part of TAPS’ Slug Bike Life program, UCSC affiliates are eligible for a significantly discounted annual BCycle membership that gives you access to unlimited 60 minute trips on BCycle e-bikes for a full year from sign up.

Registered undergraduate and graduate students that meet the criteria below pay $12 per year* for an annual membership. Employees that meet the criteria below pay $59 per year* for an annual membership.

Eligibility

  • You must use a valid UCSC email address to register.
  • You are actively taking classes** or employed by UCSC (must appear in UCPath or student billing portal/AIS).
  • You agree to use the membership at least 40 times per year.
  • You agree to take the e-bike share safety pledge.

*Bike share memberships are an annual fee that is due prior to receiving the membership. Memberships are for one year from your first ride after activation in the BCycle app. Fees will not be prorated for shorter periods of time. Bike share memberships are not eligible for payroll deduction. Memberships are non-refundable and non-transferrable.

**Those who are not enrolled in classes over the summer may be required to provide additional verification in order to receive the student rate.

Apply for UCSC Bike Share Membership with these easy steps:

Attention:

You MUST use your UCSC email address through all steps of this process. If you have used our payment system previously, please double check your email address before submitting your payment.

Please Note: Due to the nature of these subsidized memberships, we do require additional verification steps. Verifications will be processed within 5 business days.

 

  1. Complete an application with a valid UCSC email address (must end in @ucsc.edu).
  2. You will receive an email within 5 business days with a link to pay your subsidized rate. Follow the link and complete your payment. You must use your UCSC email address when you check out. 
  3. You will receive two emails from our payment system: a confirmation, and a receipt. You do not need to take any action from these emails.
  4. Once your payment is received, you will get another email with a promotional code to use in the BCycle app. Follow the steps below to sign up and start riding with BCycle. 

Activating your BCycle Membership:

  1. Download and open the BCycle app.
  2. Make sure the region is Santa Cruz.
  3. Select “Get a Pass.”
  4. Select “Annual Pass.”
  5. If you do not already have an account, you will be prompted to set one up. If you do have one, tap at the bottom of the screen to sign in. You must use your UCSC email address to register or the promo code will not work.
  6. After creating your account or signing in, select “tap to enter Promo Code.”
  7. Enter the promo code you received in your email and select “Apply” to set the total to $0.00.
  8. Select “buy with Credit Card” or “Buy with Apple/Google Pay.” If your promo code was entered correctly you will not be charged, but you must enter this information to complete the registration.
  9. Your one-year membership begins at the time of your first ride. 
  10. Enjoy riding around Campus with ease using your new BCycle Membership!

Bike Share FAQ's

Q: Are my bike share fees (annual, monthly, and/or walk-up) eligible as a pre-tax commuter transportation benefit?
A: Bike share fees are not eligible for payroll deduction through UCPath, therefore they are not eligible for pre-tax commuter transportation benefits.

Q: If I don’t use my membership or I want to return it, will TAPS refund my membership fee?
A: Bike share memberships are an annual fee that is due prior to receiving the membership. Fees will not be prorated for shorter periods of time. Memberships are non-refundable and non-transferrable.

Q: Why aren’t bike share memberships free?
A; Bike share memberships are subsidized by TAPS and UCSC. The fees help ensure that memberships are provided to those who are most likely to use bike share.

Q: Are helmets required while using bike share?
A: In the State of California, helmets are not required for those over the age of 18 years old. Helmets are strongly encouraged while using bike share. Visit slugbikelife.org to sign for a free helmet giveaway event.

Q: Who should I contact if I see a bike left outside of a dock?
A: Contact BCycle by calling (831) 278-3132 or emailing santacruz@bcycle.com.


Do you have more questions? Check out the Santa Cruz BCycle page for more information.

Locations of BCycle Docks