Tugo Bike Share is excited to announce Free Ride Wednesdays during the month of April. Thanks to Tugo Bike Share’s partner, Tucson Electric Power (TEP), Tugo Bike Share riders will ride for free every Wednesday in the month of April. Riders can take out a bike at no cost, ride for as long as they wish, then return the bike to any station from 8am – 10pm on Wednesdays.
“We encourage all Tucsonans to grab a bike to commute or explore the city the greener, healthier and fun way. Grab a friend and discover a new favorite local spot or two,” said Heili Toome, Chief Marketing Officer at Shift Transit, Tugo’s long standing operating company, “Tugo is grateful to TEP for their sponsorship and continued support of Bike Share.”
“We’re making the energy we deliver cleaner, greener and healthier all the time so sponsoring free rides is well-aligned with those priorities,” said Joe Salkowski, TEP’s Senior Director of Communications and Public Affairs. “With $0 daily passes, it’s easier than ever for riders to discover the environmental benefits and convenience of biking in the city.”
The benefits of bike sharing are undeniable and the program has seen more than 80,000 trips, sold more than 11,000 passes, which translates to over 60,000 miles biked and account for approximately 38,000 pounds of CO2 emissions saved.
As we start to welcome more visitors and see more and more Tucsonans out and about, Tugo Bike Share wants riders to enjoy new experiences and discover the benefits of biking in the city.
Here’s how to take advantage of Free Ride Wednesdays:
Learn more about Free Ride Wednesdays: https://tugobikeshare.com/free-ride-wednesdays/
To get started, visit a station or download the PBSC app for quick, contactless access.
Let’s ride, Tucson!
On Monday, March 7, the City of Tucson Department of Transportation and Mobility (DTM), in partnership with Shift Transit, the longstanding Tugo Bike Share operating company, will introduce a new pricing model that makes it even easier to hop on a bike. To simplify access to bike share, Tugo will offer a Pay-As-You-Go pricing model for casual riders: $1 to unlock + $0.25 per minute of ride time. With this pricing model, bikes only need to be returned to a station once a trip is complete, giving riders more flexibility to move around the city.
“We’re excited to bring this pricing model to our current and new riders,” said Donovan Durband, Park Tucson Administrator. “The Pay-As-You-Go model is more straightforward and we expect it to make Tugo more inviting and accessible for Tucson residents and visitors alike.”
Since 2017, Tugo Bike Share has offered casual riders a variety of pass types, including a $4 Single Trip, $8 Daily Pass and $15 Explorer Pass. The Annual Pass will remain available for $80 per year, which amounts to less than $0.22 a day for 24/7 access to bikes. The Monthly Pass will continue, for $18 per month. The Tugo-For-All Annual Pass, which represents 25% of total utilization, will still be available to qualified individuals for just $5 per year. Bike-sharing gives people more options to get to where they need to go, allows people to stay active, and creates a more sustainable way to move around the city.
“Our partnership with the City of Tucson shows just how much we can accomplish to make micromobility accessible for many,” said Heili Toome, Chief Marketing Officer at Shift Transit. “We believe the new pricing model will help bike share to be an easier and more competitive active transportation option for our valued riders.”
Tugo Bike Share is a healthier, greener and more affordable means of transportation, offering greater access through greater mobility options with 330 bikes across 41 stations in Tucson. The program has seen more than 80,000 trips, sold more than 11,000 passes, which translates to over 60,000 miles biked and accounts for approximately 38,000 pounds of CO2 emissions saved.
To get started, visit a station or download the PBSC app for quick, contactless access. Thank you to Tugo’s leading sponsor, Tucson Electric Power, which has supported the bike share program since its inception.
Read the official press release here.
Hi, we’re Tugo – the best public bike share system in all of Tucson!
(okay, the *only* public bike share system in Tucson…. but still…)
We know you’ve been telling your friends about Tugo and how they should give us a try – they’ve been listening. With all these Tugo first-timers and even more people waiting in the wings, we wanted to take the opportunity to re-introduce ourselves.
How to get riding?
Whether you’re commuting, running errands or sightseeing, Tugo is a fun, flexible and cost-effective way to navigate the city. Buy a pass or become a member to access over 330 bikes and 41 stations across 13 neighborhoods.
Our Safety Tips are extremely important. These tips help to keep everyone safe while riding and since they’re so important we always recommended new riders read them before getting to a station. If you’re a long-time rider, do us a favor and read over the rules at least once a year as a refresher.
Next up, is to take a quick look at our FAQ page. You have questions and we have answers. The FAQ page is a great resource to answer anything from “What is Bike Share?” to “What should I do if I need to return my bike and the station is full?”
Locate a bike at one of our 41 stations across the city. If you like to plan ahead, you can see current bike availability on the System Map or PBSC app, the official app for Tugo Bike Share.
You can purchase an Short-term Pass in one of two ways:
1. Buy a short-term pass at any one of our 41 stations by following the step-by-step instructions on the kiosk touchscreen
2. Use the PBSC app to buy right from your smartphone.
For monthly and annual membership options, please purchase them online from our Pricing page. Explore the city, run errands, ride with friends – Take unlimited 30-minute trips while your pass or membership is active. After 30 minutes, overage fees apply.
*If you want to ride longer than 30 minute trips, check out our Explorer Pass. The Explorer Pass is the only pass type that gives you up to 3 hour trips before you have to dock and unlock the same or another bike if you wish to continue riding.
Once you buy your pass, you will receive a 5-digit ride code. Find an available bike, and enter the ride code on the dock keypad (on the left-hand side of the dock of your selected bike). After you enter the code, the light at the dock should turn green indicating that the bike is unlocked – firmly pull the bike back from the dock.
Keep in mind that ride codes are only valid for 5 minutes and are created for single-use only. If you want to ride again while your pass is still active, you will need to request a new ride code via the app or by inserting the same credit card into the station to receive a new ride code.
Once you’re at the dock, match the triangle on the front of the bike with the dock, and insert the bike. Give it a good push into the dock. A green light will appear on the dock indicating that the bike has been locked in the dock.
Pro Tip: Before your 30-minute trip is up, dock the bike and unlock another to continue riding without accumulating overage fees. (*or 3-hours if you’re riding on an Explorer Pass)
Ready to ride again? Repeat the process and see more of Tucson!
Don’t forget: You can enjoy UNLIMITED 30-minute, station-to-station trips while your pass or membership is active. This means if you purchase our daily pass to commute to work in the morning, use that same pass after work to get to happy hour, then AGAIN to get back home. (pretty cool, huh?)
So now that you know all about us, before we send you the pop quiz, be sure to tag us on your adventures @TugoBikeShare – We love to see Tucson from your eyes!
We’re celebrating #RollToWorkDay by commuting the greener, healthier and cost-effective way. We’re asking you to grab a friend or colleague and come join us!
Roll to Work Day is part of a nation-wide campaign to get people commuting using active transportation – SO LET’S RIDE!
Tugo’s $0 Daily Pass allows Tucsonans to ride to and from work (or anywhere!) for free. On Wednesday, May 19th, simply visit a station kiosk or download the PBSC app to get your free Daily Pass. Enjoy unlimited 30-minute, station to station trips while your pass is active. Remember, after 30 minutes, overage fees apply.
Take a break and ride with us! Be sure to visit our website or download the PBSC App to find a bike near you. Take a break with Tugo Bike Share!
Go explore all that our city has to offer. Biking is a perfect distanced experience to embark on with a friend. Get some post-work miles in and exercise those muscles!
STEP 1: Visit a station kiosk or download the PBSC app on May 19, 2021.
STEP 2: Tap ‘Buy a Pass’ on a kiosk touch screen or the app, select ‘$0 Daily Pass’ and follow the on-screen instructions.
STEP 3: Get riding by entering your 5-digit code into any dock with an available bike.
STEP 4: Enjoy unlimited 30-minute, station to station trips for 24 consecutive hours. For trips longer than 30 minutes, overage fees accumulate at a rate of $4 per additional 30 minutes of trip time.
STEP 5: Return your bike to any station. Check parking availability at stations near your work place on our website or the PBSC app.
STEP 6: To ride again, select “I Have a Pass” at a kiosk and insert your credit card, or use the PBSC app. Take as many 30-minute trips as you like while your pass is still active.
Tugo Bike Share provides a safe, reliable and accessible means of transportation for Tucsonans. Taking 22,600 trips last year, the system continues to play a key role in Tucson’s city landscape. Expanding the service area in 2019 to include four new neighborhoods, taking us to 41 stations in the system, Tugo Bike Share is working to make bikesharing (and cycling) more accessible. Biking over 46,000 miles, burning over 13,881,600 calories and offsetting carbon emissions by 41,800 lbs last year, we’re proud to help make our city a greener, healthier place to live.
Biking is a great way to travel while maintaining a safe physical distance from others. In an effort to prioritize health and safety, Tugo has ramped up its cleaning during the COVID-19 pandemic. As bikes are regularly in use and exposed to the environment, we strongly recommend that riders take the steps outlined by the CDC when using the system. The best way to prevent infection is to follow the recommended personal hygiene measures by cleaning your bike before use.
We believe the right to vote is fundamental to the success of our democracy – that’s why we’re giving away FREE Daily Passes on Election Day. Roll to the Polls with Tugo at no cost on November 3rd.
Providing safe, accessible transit to and from the polls, Tugo’s $0 Daily Pass allows Tucsonans to ride to and from their polling place free of charge. Simply visit a station kiosk or download the CycleFinder/PBSC App on November 3rd. to get your free Daily Pass. Enjoy unlimited 30-minute, station to station trips while your pass is active. After 30 minutes, overage fees apply.
Off to the polls? Be sure to visit our website or download the CycleFinder/PBSC App to find parking by your polling place.
Cast your ballot without worrying about transportation – unlock, ride, dock and VOTE! Take advantage of 24 hours of free biking by riding again and again with Tugo.
Tugo Bike Share provides a safe, reliable and accessible means of transportation for Tucsonans. Taking over 22,600 trips in the last 12 months, the system continues to play a key role in Tucson’s transportation landscape. Expanding the service area in 2019 to include four new neighborhoods and a total of 41 stations, Tugo Bike Share is working to make bikesharing more accessible citywide. Biking over 46,000 miles, burning over 13,881,600 calories and offsetting carbon emissions by 41,800 lbs this year, we’re proud to help make our city a greener, healthier place to live.
Biking is a great way travel while maintaining a safe physical distance from others. In an effort to prioritize health and safety, Tugo has ramped up its cleaning during the COVID-19 pandemic. As bikes are regularly in use and exposed to the environment, we strongly recommend that riders take the steps outlined by the CDC when using the system. The best way to prevent infection is to follow the recommended personal hygiene measures by cleaning your bike before use.
The City of Tucson Department of Transportation and Mobility (DTM), in partnership with Shift Transit, the Tugo Bike Share operating company, announce Free Ride Thursdays during the month of October, thanks to program sponsor El Rio Health.
Getting active while maintaining a safe distance from others, riders can enjoy no-cost daily passes every Thursday in October. The free daily pass gives users access to unlimited 30-minute, station-to-station trips for 24 consecutive hours. Visit a station or download the CycleFinder/PBSC app to get moving for free with El Rio Health. Refer to the Tugo system map to locate a nearby station.
Tugo Bike Share provides a healthy, convenient and affordable means of transportation spanning many neighborhoods; the system has seen more than 22,600 trips and sold more than 2,900 passes in the last 12 months. Expanding the service area in 2019 to include four new neighborhoods and a total of 41 stations, Tugo Bike Share continues to make bikesharing more accessible citywide. Changing the way Tucson moves, over 46,000 miles have been biked with Tugo so far this year accounting for approximately 41,800 pounds of CO2 emissions saved and over two million calories burned. Offering a variety of passes to suit the needs of locals and visitors, riders can choose from short-term access passes, monthly passes, annual passes and more!
In an effort to prioritize health and safety, Tugo Bike Share has ramped up its cleaning during the COVID-19 pandemic. As bikes are regularly in use and exposed to the environment, Bike Share continues to strongly recommend that riders take the steps outlined in the Pima County Health Department and the CDC when using the system. The best way to prevent infection is to follow the recommended personal hygiene measures by cleaning your bike before use.
More information on Tugo Bike Share is available at: https://tugobikeshare.com/.
• Download the CycleFinder/PBSC app or visit the Tugo Bike Share website system map to find a station near you.
• Go to any of the 41 bike share stations between 12:01 a.m. and 11:59 p.m. on one of the five Thursdays in October.
• Select “Buy a pass” on the kiosk touch screen and select “$0 One-Day”, then insert your credit card and follow the on-screen instructions. You can also obtain your pass on the CycleFinder/PBSC app by selecting “Purchase Access Pass.” There is a refundable $24 deposit per bike.
• After completing the transaction, type in the code you received into the keypad on the left side of the docking point of the bike of your choice.
• Go out and explore Tucson – don’t forget to dock every 30 minutes to avoid overage fees Overage fees will apply if ride is over the allotted 30 minutes.
• To continue exploring Tucson on two wheels, simply unlock the same bike or another by requesting new ride code. Ride again and again for 24h consecutive hours with your $0 Daily Pass.
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Contacts:
City of Tucson Department of Transportation
Andrew Bemis, Bicycle & Pedestrian Program Coordinator
Andrew.bemis@tucsonaz.gov
520.444.8278
Shift Transit
Heili Toome
htoome@shifttransit.net
647.210.8533
Our top priority as Tucson’s bike share system has always been to support our city. As the COVID-19 pandemic evolves, Tugo Bike Share remains open for urgent and essential transportation needs. Let’s come together, Tucson and help each other in any way we can. Here are a few ways Tugo is lending a hand.
We are committed to keeping our customers and staff safe and will continue to operate Tugo to help support those who need to travel on an urgent basis. We encourage everyone to use our system through either the CycleFinder App, website or member key to maintain physical distancing. The Tugo operational staff is also exercising protocols such as disinfecting bikes and stations with germ-killing disinfectant as they visit them on a consistent and ongoing basis. We will continue to monitor the situation and take the appropriate series of actions.
Click here for more information on our COVID-19 procedures.
COVID-19 has impacted every aspect of our daily life, including transportation. In response to the pandemic, Tugo Bike Share is offering a Free Monthly Pass to help those who need to travel on an urgent basis. Take unlimited 30-minute station-to-station trips for 30 days free of charge. We are committed to keeping our customers and staff safe and will continue to operate Tugo to support Tucson’s transit needs.
Click here for more information about our Free Monthly Pass.
Tugo is proud to support the local community and the businesses that shape our city. We’re calling on our riders to help give back to the businesses that we all know and love during these difficult times. We’re inviting our friends to nominate local establishments for our Community Business Giveaway. Tell us why a small business is special to our community to award free annual memberships to their staff.
Click here for more information about our Community Business Giveaway.
Tugo is asking all customers to help stop the spread of COVID-19 by practicing physical distancing. We are committed to keeping our customers and staff safe and will continue to operate Tugo to help support those who need to travel on an urgent basis. We encourage everyone to use our system through either the CycleFinder App, Tugo website or member key to maintain physical distancing.
The Tugo operational staff is exercising protocols such as disinfecting bikes and stations with germ-killing disinfectant as they visit them on a consistent and ongoing basis. We will continue to monitor the situation and take the appropriate series of actions.
There are steps you can take to protect yourself in addition to good personal hygiene while riding:
We continue to take the measures listed above, and we ask you for help in practicing safe hygiene with the current COVID-19 health situation.
Riding into 2020, we’re reflecting on our incredible journey with Tucson over the past year. From expanding our system into new neighbourhoods to Tugo turning two, we are thrilled to have welcomed more riders to the bikeshare community. With bikesharing named this decade’s biggest transportation success story, we can’t help but wonder what 2020 will bring! Become a member and join us for another incredible year of biking.
Adding four new locations and 51 new docking points in 2019, Tugo expanded to 40 stations this year! Growing Tugo’s service area to include Presidio Park, Catalina Park, Lost Barrio and at Reid Park. Bikeshare is continuing to revolutionize how we get around, with bike sharing options doubling globally since 2014. We are thrilled to be part of the shared mobility movement in Tucson!
Tugo celebrated our second anniversary riding with Tucson in 2019! Our birthday gift for users? Free two week trials. We invited Tucson to enjoy unlimited 30 minute station-to-station trips for 14 days on us. What will year three bring? Grab a Tugo in 2020 and let’s find!
We gave back to our riders this year with Free Ride Days! Offering users free rides on specified dates, we invited Tucson to try the system free of charge. In September, riders enjoyed a Free Ride Day on National Car Free Day! According to The Washington Post, the event “promotes improvement of mass transit, cycling and walking, and the development of communities where jobs are closer to home and where shopping is within walking distance.”
We gave back to our riders this year with big savings! Offering free trials, Wildcat discounts, flash sales and our annual Membership Blitz, the Tugo team offered a variety of savings for our users. Fear not, you haven’t missed out on our deals! Stay tuned for more exciting promotions in 2020.
Biking an incredible 52,622 miles in 2019, together we offset carbon emissions by 48,260 lbs. With great distance comes great exercise as well! According to Deloitte, bikeshare is brings about “profound societal changes” through “reductions in traffic and pollution, less-crowded public transit systems, and improvements in public health.” Tugo is happy to be a part of making Tucson a greener city!
We rang in Tucson’s 107th birthday on Valentine’s Day with the unveiling of our Love Tucson unicorn bike! Are you wondering “what in the world is a unicorn bike?” A unicorn bike is a uniquely decorated bike share bicycle that stands out from the rest of the fleet. We teamed up with Why I Love Where I Love (WILWIL) to launch the Love Tucson Bike Program, kicking off with a Community Ride on February 14th and a fun Ride & Seek Challenge.
As we ring in 2020, we set set out to better ourselves through the time-old tradition of New Year’s Resolutions. From getting in shape to going green, there are a number of goals we work towards to celebrate a fresh start.
Whether you are saving money, getting active or trying something new, we have your New Year’s Resolutions covered. Discover 5 ways to keep your New Year’s Resolution with Tugo.
Looking to save up in 2020? Celebrate the new year with a Tugo membership! Biking with us is a cost-effective transit option for navigating the city. With Annual Memberships priced at $80 – that’s less than 22¢ a day! – getting to your destination in Tucson has never been more affordable. Grab a membership and start saving!
Did you know that transportation is America’s biggest source of greenhouse gas pollution ? Trading your car for a bike or shared mobility is an easy way to go green. Lower your carbon footprint and cut back on your commute time by riding with Tugo year round. Check out our system map to see how you can work us into your daily transit routine.
If your goal is to get active, biking is for you! Cycling has a number of health benefits like improvements in cardiovascular health, a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes, a lower risk of certain cancers and a healthier body weight. Whether you’re biking to and from work, running errands or heading to a friend’s house, Tugo makes living a healthy, active lifestyle easy, convenient and fun.
Taking care of your mental health is one of the most important resolutions we can make. Whether you’re in need of a stress reliever, a mood booster or an anxiety reducer, Tugo may help! By increasing levels of serotonin, dopamine and brain-derived neurotrophic factor, cycling is a proven mood stabilizer. Grab a pass and explore the unique mental health benefits biking has to offer.
A new year is the perfect opportunity to try something new. Why not give biking a go? Riding with us is easy, cost-effective and FUN! Step outside of your comfort zone and give Tugo a chance – we think you’ll like it.
