Cost Of Jump Bike Rentals To Increase In Sacramento Area

The cost to use an electric shared bicycle in Sacramento, West Sacramento and Davis just got more expensive.

Jump, which is owned by parent company Uber, is restructuring its rental rates starting Friday.

For example, a half-hour ride under the old plan would cost you $2.20. Now, that same ride would be $5.50.

But Kirk Trost with the Sacramento Area Council of Governments, which helped bring Jump to the region, says that's still not a bad deal.

"We approved a price increase for them, but it's still about 40 percent [less] than most comparable bike share systems across the country," Trost said. 

Jump says the increase is necessary because cities throughout the U.S., including Sacramento, have raised fees to operate shareables.

Jump says the rates will likely lead to lower usage, and then pointed out that should make the bikes more available.

Trost says unlike San Diego and other places where Jump has decided to pull its bikes, the Sacramento region has a strong relationship in place.

"Our partnership is really important to us, and what we have ... is one of the most successful bike-share systems in the country and perhaps the world," he said.

Jump still offers a discounted monthly plan as well as rates for low-income users — just $5 for the entire first year.

Lyft also runs a shared-bike system and has turned in an application with Sacramento.