QuitoBici Relaunch Plans 250 Bikes And 25 Stations

Quito is preparing a larger version of QuitoBici, the city's public bicycle system.

The system will allow users to unlock bicycles with the Tarjeta Ciudad or a QR code from a cellphone. Each unit will have real-time geolocation and an electronic lock.

What Is Changing

The previous service had 120 bicycles. QuitoBici is expected to start with 250 units.

The network is also set to expand from six stations to 25 stations, while bike anchoring points increase from 180 to 425.

Hours are planned for Monday through Sunday, from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Coverage is expected to reach about 40 square kilometers, connecting sectors from Quitumbe in southern Quito to La Ofelia in the north.

What This Means For Expats

For Quito residents, students, and visitors, the useful part is not just the bigger fleet. It is the QR/Tarjeta Ciudad access and broader north-south coverage.

The exact launch date was not specified, so treat this as a system to watch rather than a service to rely on today.