Link’s Story
LINK Dayton Bike Share will suspend operations this fall, September 30th 2024.
LINK Dayton Bike share is a program ran by Bike Miami Valley, a non-profit cycling advocacy organization.
LINK Dayton Bike Share was launched in May of 2015 in the spirit of community collaboration between and has served the Dayton core for 9 years.120,665 Trips to date with 66,790 total unique users. LINK Dayton Bike Share was created to make biking more accessible for all, provide “last mile” transportation throughout the urban core, as well as improve livability, and provide a healthy, environmentally friendly mode of transportation.
Bike share systems across the nation are facing unique challenges that have proved difficult for these donor funded systems to navigate, including rising costs, operational challenges, rising expenses for insurance and a lack of insurance providers willing to cover bike share programs. These have also impacted the LINK Dayton Bike Share system and are major contributors to the decision to suspend operations.
Downtown Dayton has changed drastically since LINK Dayton Bike Share was first introduced, with increased housing, entertainment, restaurants on the positive side with less workforce active during working hours.
LINK Dayton Bike Share sees annually: over 50K rides in recent years, with 5K unique users and currently has 38 stations throughout downtown Dayton, nearby neighborhoods, and the University of Dayton campus.
The LINK system has historically been supported by donors and sponsorships, with only a small portion of revenue coming from ridership.
We want to show gratitude for all the Founding Sponsors of Link: Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Bonbright Distributors and New Belgium Brewing Company, CareSource, City of Dayton, Five Rivers MetroParks, Montgomery County, PNC, Premier Health, Public Health – Dayton and Montgomery County’s Creating Healthy Communities Program, Sinclair College and the University of Dayton for their support.
Bike Miami Valley’s mission “to advocate, promote, and create opportunities for all forms of bicycling in the Miami Valley” will continue as it has since the organization’s founding in 1979. The Regional Chapters will continue to conduct advocacy and events. Bike Miami Valley will continue to support the Miami Valley Cycling Summit, held next, in Springfield in 2025.
Bike Miami Valley and LINK are currently open to other possibilities for the continuation of the LINK Dayton Bike Share system, including a transition to another community partner.
