UC Santa Cruz's five-year deal with e-bike share company BCycle could end early, leaving students who use the bikes to get up the hill uncertain about what comes next.
What happened
The service launched on campus June 20, 2023. About three years in, BCycle is seeking to end the university contract, citing damage to bikes and docks in the region, Lookout Santa Cruz reported. UCSC announced the possible termination Sept. 30 and said most of the damage happened off campus.
A UCSC spokesperson said BCycle plans to keep operating elsewhere in Santa Cruz County, but offered to keep campus service only for a larger annual financial guarantee that is more than both the original agreement and current campus membership demand.
BCycle's side
BCycle says UCSC helped pay for discounted student memberships in 2023, 2024 and 2025, but those payments did not cover dock maintenance or other operating costs. The company says campus ridership has grown 14% a year without matching growth in revenue. It says UCSC's offer for the 2026-27 school year was more than 50% below the previous year's level for the same service.
What's next
Talks have paused, and the university has not said whether it will agree to a higher guarantee. The bikes will stay on campus through at least the end of fall quarter. BCycle says it hopes to resume talks.