QuitoBici Returns This Week With Free Bikes Across 40 Kilometers

What happened

Quito's public bike system is scheduled to return between Tuesday, July 28, and Thursday, July 30, 2026.

The new system, called QuitoBici, is designed as a north-south public mobility network with 40 kilometers of route coverage and 25 stations. It replaces the suspended 2024 version of the service, which ended after the contract with Espe Innovativa was terminated.

The new contract runs for four years and was awarded to Consorcio Bicicletas Quito for USD 5.5 million. The consortium includes Soluciones Arcossoft from Colombia and Seblan from Ecuador.

The system will have 250 bicycles and 25 stations. The contractor is responsible for maintenance, insurance, and replacing units or equipment when needed.

Where it will run

QuitoBici will stretch from Quitumbe in the south to La Ofelia in the north. That is a major expansion from the 2024 project: the new route adds 32 kilometers compared with the previous seven-kilometer system.

Stations will be distributed as follows:

• 9 stations in the north
• 9 stations in the south
• 7 stations in the center and hypercenter

Some stations are placed near Metro, Trole, and Ecovia stops. Examples named for the north include El Labrador, La Pradera, Carolina, and Inaquito. In the south, examples include La Magdalena, Solanda, Moran Valverde, and Quitumbe.

How to use it

The service is free and will operate Monday through Sunday from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Users need to open a Cuenta Ciudad through Quito Nos Mueve, then request a Tarjeta Ciudad at a Metro, Trole, or Ecovia station. After that, they can go to one of the 25 QuitoBici stations and request a bike.

Each ride has a maximum time of one hour. If someone needs another bike after returning the first one, the system allows another request with no daily-use limit.

The municipality also says users may request a bike with their cedula if it is linked to their account at a Metro, Trole, or Ecovia station.

What This Means for Expats

For expats in Quito, this is not just a cyclist story. It is a practical short-trip option for errands, appointments, Spanish classes, coworking days, and Metro-connected movement without relying on taxis for every last kilometer.

The system also adds two important convenience tools: the Quito Nos Mueve and Mi Quito apps will show the route map and bike availability at each station. The bikes will have GPS tracking, and each unit will use an electronic lock connected to the station structure until unlocked through the app or the Tarjeta Ciudad.

The most useful takeaway: if you live near the Metro, Trole, Ecovia, or the named station zones, it may be worth setting up the account before the launch window instead of trying to figure it out on the sidewalk.