Des Moines FAQs

Des Moines B-cycle is the new way to get around town. Des Moines B-cycle members can pick up a bike at any B-station and return it to that same station or any other B-station when they’re done. It's like Red Box for bikes. Using their B-cards, members can unlock a bike in seconds. Returning a bike is even easier. Just roll it into a dock and walk away. The onboard B-cycle trip computer (plus kiosk technology) allows members to track all the miles they ride, the calories they burn, the carbon emissions they avoid, and the dollars they saved by leaving their car parked.

The B-cycle is a magic bike: It's there when you need it and gone when you don’t. No more hassles with locking, maintaining, fixing, or storing your getting-around-town bike. Let the magic bike take care of all that!

About 40% of all daily trips made in the USA are shorter than two miles. In-cred-ible! That’s the perfect length for a bicycle trip! A network of magic bikes located throughout downtown Des Moines allows people to economically and conveniently avoid road congestion and parking problems, and reduce pollution. That’s not all: biking also improves your health and puts a smile on your face!

Okay, okay. It's not a network yet. But it's not too hard to figure out other perfect locations for more kiosks and bikes. That's where you come in: Become a B-cycle deputy and help us advocate for more. First downtown, then West Des Moines, Johnston, Ankney, and all the other great suburbs. Let's get it done together.

  Des Moines B-cycle gives Des Moines residents and visitors  a new choice for making short trips conveniently and quickly. We think bike-sharing is a better choice, but we're partial. 

Imagine a bike that is always ready to ride, where and when you want to ride it. The tires are always inflated, the chain is never rusty, and your pants will never get a grease smudge. The bike has a basket to carry your goods, and has front and rear lights. No lock to worry about. It fits people of all sizes, and best of all, it’s there when you need it, and gone when you don’t. That’s a B-cycle. And it’s powered by the ultimate alternative fuel: You.

Des Moines B-cycle relies on the integration of hardware and software to keep track of members and bikes, and all the interactions between users and bikes. Proprietary GPS and radio-frequency identification (RFID) technologies make it possible for bike sharing to be so smart that it is simple for users. 

All your rides are tracked by the system. For members (30-day and annual), data including distance, ride duration, calories burned, transportation dollars saved, and carbon offset will be captured and uploaded to your personal page at DesMoinesBcycle.com. But you gotta join to start your own page!

Later this fall, each bike will have its own GPS unit to accurately track your route.

Yes. To purchase a Des Moines B-cycle membership as a gift for someone else, contact Des Moines Bike Sharing at 515-333-5590. After processing your membership fee payment, we will provide you with a promotion code that the gift recipient uses to register online. Your gift recipient will be required to enter their credit or debit card information for potential usage fees.

Des Moines B-cycle charges a membership fee to gain unlimited access to the system for the duration of your chosen membership period in addition to a time-based usage fee that varies according to how long you keep the bike on each ride. To encourage both usage and bike availability in 2010, the first 60 minutes of every ride is free!

You can buy a membership that is good for 24 hours,  30 days or one year. All memberships can be purchased on this Web site, and 24-hour memberships can also be purchased at the kiosk that is part of every Des Moines B-station.

The usage fee refers to fees charged based on how long a ride lasts. If a ride is 60 minutes or less, the usage fee is always zero. Rides that last for more than 60 minutes are subject to usage fees shown in the Des Moines B-cycle Rates section of the Web site.

But, let's keep it easy. Ride 89 minutes (without checking the bike into a kiosk) and we tack on $1.25 to your monthly bill. Think of the usage fee as similar to keeping a Red Box movie for a second day. We want you to return the bike so others can use it. It's all about sharing.

Like Mom always said, "Be nice and share." We encourage you to be nice and return the bike so others can use the B-cycle.

 To make the kiosk sign-up process as simple and quick as possible, only 24-hour memberships are available at the kiosks.

 Des Moines B-cycle requires that all accounts be associated with a credit card, or a debit card that does not require a PIN for use.

Yes. To purchase a Des Moines B-cycle membership as a gift for someone else, contact Des Moines Bike Sharing at 515-333-5590. After processing your membership fee payment, we will provide you with a promotion code that the gift recipient uses to register online. Your gift recipient will be required to enter their credit or debit card information for potential usage fees.

A B-card is a plastic card issued to Des Moines B-cycle 30-day and annual members. Using their B-card, members check out bikes directly from the docks at any B-station, instead of using the kiosk. The B-card checkout method is super-fast and convenient!

The B-cards contain a radio-frequency identification (RFID) chip uniquely associated with the member’s account. When the B-card is presented at a Des Moines B-cycle dock, the B-cycle computer is queried to confirm that the member is in good standing and to associate the member with the bike they are checking out. When a bike is returned, the B-cycle computer updates the member’s account.

B-cards also contain a magnetic strip so the cards can be read by the credit-card reader found on the kiosk. This allows B-card holders to identify themselves at the kiosk to obtain time credits when a station is full.

B-cards are issued to 30-day and annual members. Your B-card should arrive by mail within 10 days after joining. Until the B-card arrives, you can use your credit or debit card.

Always use the same card as you did when you started the online membership transaction.

Membership fees are charged to your credit or debit card when registration occurs. Usage fees accumulate during the membership period; 30-day members will be charged for usage fees at the end of their membership period. Annual members will be charged on the first of each month for usage fees accrued during the previous month.

When signing up online, only one membership can be associated with one credit or debit card. (We're working on an upgrade so the two accounts could be opened with one card.)

When buying a 24-hour membership at a station kiosk, up to four memberships can be purchased with the same credit or debit card. However, the same card must be present for all subsequent checkouts during the membership period.

 Call Customer Service at 515-333-5590.

Membership fees are non-refundable. However, if you wish to suspend your account to prevent any new usage fees, call Customer Service at 515-333-5590.

When registering, members choose whether they want to receive text notifications. Members can change this preference anytime thereafter by logging into their personal B-cycle web page and managing their account settings.

 Simple! Members can change their credit card information by logging into their personal B-cycle Web page and managing their account settings.

 Call Customer Service (515-333-5590) immediately so we can suspend the card and prevent anyone else from using your card to gain access to a bike for which you are financially responsible.

A replacement card will be provided for a $5 fee.

While waiting for your replacement B-card to arrive, you can still check out bikes by swiping your credit or debit card at the station kiosk. You must present the credit or debit card associated with your membership account. 

Your membership period begins the first time you check out a bike. Information about the expiration of your Des Moines B-cycle membership can be found on My Accounts on your Des Moines B-cycle Web page.

Information about each member’s use of B-cycles is posted to that member’s personal B-cycle Web page. Members must log in to view the information, which includes such information as the date and duration of each trip, the station from which the bike was checked out and the station to which the bike was returned, the distance pedaled, the usage fee (if any), the associated calories burned, and carbon offset. Yes, even an approximate dollars amount saved by leaving your car parked.

B-cycles are equipped with an internal GPS device that tracks the miles from each bike ride. After this information is transferred to the B-cycle system and properly associated with the member who checked out the bike out for that ride, the system uses algorithms to estimate the number of calories burned and carbon emissions avoided.

Upon presenting your B-card at a station kiosk or dock for authentication, the system checks whether your account is in good standing. If there is a problem, your card will be denied. Please call Customer Service at 515-333-5590 to determine the cause of the problem.

 During the time you have a bike, you are responsible for the bike, as detailed in the User Agreement.

You are responsible for any bike checked out with your B-card, as detailed in the User Agreement. If you lose your B-card, call Customer Service (515-333-5590) immediately so we can suspend the card and prevent anyone else from using your card to gain access to a bike for which you are financially responsible.

The bikes are all the same size. But thanks to clever design and an easily adjustable seat post, they fit people from 5'0" to well over 6'4" tall. As part of your selection process, you should inspect your preferred bike to make sure it is ready to ride. Click here for instructions on how to inspect a bike. The only adjustment you need to make before riding is to raise or lower the seat post (if necessary). Click here for instructions on how to adjust the seat post to get the seat at the right height.

To familiarize yourself with the B-cycle’s features, we have prepared a guide that explains how to use the brakes, gears, bell, kickstand and other bicycle features. We also strongly recommend you read our Safety Guide. And always wear a helmet!

No. There are hygiene and safety issues with shared helmet use. It is the responsibility of the rider to supply his/her own helmet.

When you purchase a helmet at a local bike shop, the sales staff will happily help you with a proper fit.

  No. Des Moines B-cycle is only open to people 18 and older.

Following our launch in September 2010, the Des Moines B-cycle system will be operational from March 1 to November 30 each year, weather permitting. When operational, the Des Moines B-cycle system allows bike checkouts from 5:00 am to 10:00 pm seven days a week.

Bikes can be returned any time, 24 hours a day. Three beeps and three green blinks indicate a successful return. 

Return a damaged bike to a B-station if possible and contact Customer Service at 515-333-5590 so we can attend to the bike. If it is not possible to return the bike to a station, contact Customer Service. Do not ride a bike with damage that affects your safety.

 Contact Customer Service at 515-333-5590. There is a $10 fee for key replacement.

 During the time you have a bike, you are responsible for the bike, as detailed in the Terms and Conditions. Contact Customer Service at 515-333-5590 and be prepared to make a police statement. You may be liable up to $1,000 if a bike is stolen or lost while in your possession (see User Agreement). Help Des Moines B-cycle succeed, treat a B-cycle as you would your own bike!

1. Call 911 if there has been an injury.
2. Contact the police.
3. Exchange and collect information with any affected or associated parties or witnesses.
4. Contact Customer Service at 515-333-5590.

Des Moines B-cycle is a bike-sharing system designed to promote the constant use and turnover of bikes for short journeys. It's good to share!

The pricing system provides incentives for members to keep their trips short. See Des Moines B-cycle Rates. The longer the trip, the higher the usage fee. Bikes that are not returned within a three-day limit will be considered lost or stolen and members will be liable for a B-cycle replacement fee of $1,000 (see User Agreement).

This Web site provides a map of all B-stations with real-time information about their status. An iPhone app (B-cycle) is available with the same information. System maps are also displayed at each B-station.

If you wish to check out a bike from a station, but there are no available bikes, you can use a web browser (DesMoinesBcycle.com) or iPhone app (B-cycle)to locate available bikes at nearby stations. There is a system map located at each station.

This Web site provides a map of all B-stations with real-time information about the number of available bikes at each station. An iPhone app (B-cycle) is available with the same information.

If you have a bike checked out and wish to return it, but there are no available docks at a station, you can use a web browser (DesMoinesBcycle.com) or iPhone app to locate available bikes at nearby stations. Also, if you approach the kiosk at a full station, the kiosk will provide information about nearby stations with available docks, and you can also get 15 free minutes added to your ride so you can take the bike to an open station without incurring additional usage fees.

There is a system map located at each station.

 The lights and sounds at a dock provide visual and audible feedback regarding checkouts and checkins. For example, they indicate:

1. When the dock has been woken up and is operational, all lights flash simultaneously.
2. When the B-cycle computer is processing a checkout request, the hourglass symbol appears.
3. When a bike is ready to be removed from its dock, you will hear and see a slow blinking of the green light and a slow beeping noise.
4. When a checkout cannot take place due to a problem with a member’s account, illumination of the bad-card symbol will appear.
5. When an individual bike or dock is broken, the red X will appear.
6. When a successful return has taken place, you will see and hear three rapid blinks of the green light and three short beeps.