Advancing Sustainable Mobility by Improving Cuenca’s Public Bike-Share System
City: Cuenca, Ecuador
Reporting to: Director of International Relations and Cooperation
The Challenge
With a population of 600,000, Cuenca is Ecuador’s third-largest city and faces a growing problem with traffic congestion. An estimated 145,000 private vehicles are on the streets, and they account for 63 percent of daily trips within the city. The number of private vehicles is growing by about 4 to 5 percent per year—faster than the population growth rate, which is about 2 percent. However, trips on the city’s bike-share system, Bici Pública Cuenca, are going in the opposite direction. In 2019, the system reached its highest level of use, with an average of 103.3 daily trips, reflecting dynamic operation and strong user adoption. In 2020, however, usage dipped significantly due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, down to 21.4 daily trips in 2023. In 2024, usage started to increase, with 33.7 daily trips that year, followed by a more pronounced increase in 2025, reaching 44.1 daily trips. This reflects a positive trend, although still far from pre-pandemic levels. City leaders hope to find ways to boost the number of active bike-share users, improve the system’s operational efficiency, and position public bikes as a viable, sustainable alternative to private cars.
Expanding cycling fits within Mayor Cristian Zamora’s broader vision for sustainable urban development and mobility. In alignment with the mayor’s vision to improve quality of life and environmental health, the city expanded cycling infrastructure and built Ecuador’s first electric tram system. This included seventy-four kilometers of new cycleways, with a plan to reach 125 kilometers citywide. Launched in 2019, the bike-share system has 240 bicycles at twenty stations across the city. The city has also taken measures to make cycling safer and more accessible by redesigning intersections and pedestrian crossings, as well as integrating the bicycling network with transit stations. Despite these efforts, cycling usage remains below its potential.
With an end goal of expanding the use of bikes and relieving traffic congestion, Cuenca city leaders want to understand what is holding back the adoption of bicycling. Their hope is to see the public bike-share system cater to people of all socioeconomic groups, genders, ages, and physical abilities, promoting equitable opportunities for all citizens.
Key questions include:
- How can the bike-share user base be expanded effectively?
- What improvements in the operational model and user experience are necessary?
- How can biking become better integrated with other public transport options?
- What strategies will promote equitable access and safety for all residents?
What You’ll Do
The summer fellow will advance Cuenca’s sustainable mobility plans by providing actionable insights and innovative strategies to enhance the public bike system’s reach and efficiency. The fellow will analyze current bike-share usage, identify opportunities for improving operations and public engagement, and recommend changes aimed at boosting ridership and strengthening management of the system. Key stakeholders to be engaged are internal municipal teams such as the Public Mobility Company, the mayor’s office, the Departments of Urban Planning and Mobility, and external partners, including community groups, cycling advocacy organizations, business stakeholders, and residents.
Key deliverables will include:
- An analysis of current bike-share usage, operational workflows, and best practices from other cities.
- The design, administration, and analysis of a user survey to better understand bike usage and develop strategies to increase it.
- A comprehensive report detailing recommendations for changes in management and promotion of the system, including an implementation roadmap and evaluation metrics.
What You’ll Bring
The fellow will be expected to possess the following skills:
- Data Analysis
- Policy Analysis
- Design Thinking
- Marketing
- Mapping (GIS)
- Qualitative Interviewing and Analysis
- Spanish Language Fluency (preferred)
