Kuopio city bikes could be renewed in 2028, with the city preparing to put a new system out to tender this autumn if the Urban Planning Board approves the proposal on October 7.
The procurement would be carried out jointly with Lahti, which currently uses the same city bike system as Kuopio. The cooperation allows the two cities to run a shared procurement process for the next generation of bikes and related services.
If the bidding process goes ahead, the final procurement decision is expected in autumn 2027. The new system could then be introduced in Kuopio in 2028.
Jouni Huhtinen, development manager for Kuopio’s mobility services, said the planned procurement includes electrically assisted bicycles. The initial plan is to have 500 electric bikes, matching the number currently available in the city.
That number could change, however, if the cost of the city bike system and spare parts has risen significantly by the time the procurement is completed.
Electric assistance is considered particularly important in Kuopio because of the city’s hilly terrain. Huhtinen said user surveys have also shown support for keeping electric assistance as part of the system.
The city is also planning to expand its network of bike stations. Three to five additional stations are expected to be added to the existing system next year, although their locations have not yet been decided.
The expansion comes as Kuopio reviews how residents are using the bikes. Usage was slightly lower this summer than in 2025, which Huhtinen attributed to the wetter weather.
In summer 2025, each city bike was used an average of four times a day. This summer, the figure was around three to four trips per bike per day. Demand is highest during June and July.
Kuopio introduced its current city bike system in 2019. The bicycles were supplied by a Czech company and were mainly manufactured in the Czech Republic.
The city bike season in Kuopio will end on October 31 this year. If the planned procurement proceeds as proposed, residents could eventually see a larger network and a renewed fleet of electric-assisted bikes when the new system arrives in 2028.
