New Orleans plans to use an infusion of federal funds to expand micromobility options, spread the joy of biking, and build a sense of public ownership of Blue Bikes, its community-run bike share system. With demand surging beyond its fleet size and trip numbers rivaling those in cities with larger bike fleets, the system’s popularity has outpaced its ability to grow within its current funding structure. 

Now, thanks to over $11 million in federal climate grants, the City and its nonprofit operator, Blue Krewe, are laying the groundwork for the micromobility system’s long-term success. 

Background: New Orleans and Blue Bikes

Providing affordable and reliable public transportation options is a priority in New Orleans, which has one of the highest poverty rates in the country and where nearly one out of five households does not have access to a vehicle. 

Transportation accounts for over 40% of New Orleans’ total greenhouse gas emissions, and the City’s 2022 Climate Action Plan consequently identified a goal to increase the share of trips taken by walking, biking, and public transportation from 27% to 50% by 2030. Alongside continued efforts to expand the city’s greenways and on-street bike network, supporting the growth of Blue Bikes has emerged as a crucial way for the City to reach this ambitious mode shift goal by providing a low-emission, affordable daily transportation option for New Orleanians.

When the city’s previous bike share operator folded in 2020, former bike share program staff and passionate community members proposed a new model for bike sharing in New Orleans: a sponsor-funded nonprofit led and staffed by members of the community.

That community-driven approach proved powerful. From the September 2021 launch to the end of October 2025, people have taken over 970,000 trips on Blue Bikes, rivaling trip volumes in cities with more bikes. Blue Bikes also remains one of the more affordable shared e-bike systems in the country, with a standard monthly membership costing $25 for 60 minutes of rides each day, and a reduced fare option of just $4 per month for qualifying, low-income users, making it an accessible and inclusive option for New Orleanians.

Within just a few years, Blue Krewe—the nonprofit that now operates and manages the system—turned Blue Bikes into a popular, affordable transportation option. Yet this rapid growth revealed the limits of relying solely on private sponsorship to scale up. Over the past few years, Blue Bikes has suffered a significant loss of available bikes due to a combination of supply chain delays, vandalism, and theft. The system is critically in need of more e-bikes—and mechanics to repair those bikes—to meet demand, but has been limited in its ability to expand within its current funding structure.

Like many shared micromobility systems in the U.S., Blue Bikes’ operations are largely supported by philanthropic partners. While such funders play a crucial role in the shared micromobility funding ecosystem, financial support from public agencies is instrumental to help systems scale up to meet local demand while ensuring that costs remain sustainable for users. 

Scaling up with federal support

To ensure Blue Bikes could grow sustainably, the City and Blue Krewe worked together to secure federal funding to both maintain the existing system and implement a bold growth plan. 

In 2024, the United States Department of Energy awarded the City of New Orleans a $11.7 million Climate Pollution Reduction Grant to support transportation initiatives that will reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. 

This investment will support the growth of Blue Bikes’ e-bike fleet to 2,000, expand the service area by 4.5 square miles, and equip its operations hub with solar panels, electric vans, and electric vehicle charging infrastructure. Grants will also support the creation of an e-bike mechanic training program for local youth. The Youth Empowerment Project’s existing bike mechanic training program will now include e-bike maintenance, preparing young New Orleanians for careers in the city’s growing e-bike maintenance industry. 

Both Blue Krewe and the City credit the system’s success to its identity as a community-first resource. According to Blue Krewe Executive Director Leo Fraser, local investment is about more than just getting bikes on city streets: it’s about building a feeling of ownership among community members. The more the community feels that Blue Bikes is an integral part of their lives, and the more people who are given opportunities to contribute their skills, the more likely they will become advocates for the system, he said.

Next steps for Blue Bikes 

New Orleans is advancing its climate resilience vision while working to make biking an integral part of the city’s vibrant culture. As the City and Blue Krewe begin rolling out new bikes and stations over the next four years, both organizations hope the expansion will highlight how central Blue Bikes has become to local communities—and why maintaining the program is critical for the city’s future.

Learn more about:

• Blue Krewe
• Blue Bikes
• The system expansion agreement between the City of New Orleans and Blue Krewe