Budapest’s newly relaunched MOL Bubi bike-sharing system is facing a growing problem: bicycles are increasingly being left outside designated docking points, potentially exposing unsuspecting users to surcharges of tens of thousands of forints.
The confusion is partly linked to missing or temporarily unavailable docking stations, particularly in the city centre. Several popular locations have stopped operating because of outstanding permits and disputes over public-space use.
Missing stations leave riders confused
One of the most notable examples is at Déli railway station, where a previously popular Bubi station is currently unavailable. During the service’s temporary suspension, other micromobility providers occupied the site under valid public-space agreements, reports Telex.
The Budapest Transport Centre (BKK) has also yet to receive all the approvals required to redesign and reopen the station. If everything goes according to plan, the location could receive a new public-space permit from 1 October at the earliest.
A similar situation has developed around Clark Ádám Square. The Bubi app shows that there are effectively no official Bubi stations between Széll Kálmán Square and the Elizabeth Bridge. In the 5th District, 11 planned stations are also awaiting approvals, with their construction expected in September, although their opening will depend on further permissions.
Riders may mistake other points for Bubi locations
The confusion is not limited to missing stations. Some users reportedly mistake collection points belonging to other services for valid Bubi drop-off locations. Manfréd collection points, for example, can contain older-generation Bubi bicycles, while Mobi points are currently used mainly by scooter services. This can make it difficult for users to distinguish where a new-generation Bubi bicycle can legitimately be left.
The BKK acknowledged that several factors are contributing to the problem, including the incomplete integration of Mobi points and the missing stations in the 1st and 5th districts. The transport authority said users are also still becoming familiar with the new network and its rules.
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205 of 222 stations currently operating
Despite the disruption, the vast majority of the original network remains operational. Of the former 222 Bubi docking stations in Budapest, 205 – around 92 per cent – are currently operating. However, the biggest expansion is expected this autumn, when Mobi points are gradually integrated into the Bubi network.
Around 1,000 additional pick-up and drop-off points are expected to become available, shared by bicycle and scooter services. The expanded network is also planned to cover major transport hubs with at least 30,000 daily journeys, including all metro stations.
This will extend Bubi well beyond its current central coverage, reaching areas including József Attila-lakótelep, Angyalföld, Őrmező, Tisztviselőtelep, Századosnegyed, Örs vezér tere, Kőbánya-Kispest, Újpest-városkapu and Zugló. For now, however, riders are being left to navigate a confusing network where parking in the wrong place can potentially result in a substantial surcharge.
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