Budapest bike riders beware: A favorite Bubi pass is disappearing!
Today is your last chance to purchase a six-month pass for MOL Bubi, Budapest’s public bike-sharing system.
Budapest’s public transportation company, BKK, announced on its website that the six-month subscription for MOL Bubi will be discontinued starting Tuesday, 24 June 2025. Moving forward, frequent users can take advantage of discounted pricing through a monthly pass.
Why is the six-month pass being phased out?
In a statement sent to MTI on Monday, BKK explained that the current service contract for MOL Bubi expires in December 2025. Because of this, the company is unable to guarantee the validity of long-term passes beyond that date.
BKK also noted that a public procurement process to launch “Bubi 3.0” began in early October 2024. Due to technical limitations, existing six-month passes cannot be transferred to the new system. A similar issue occurred during the transition from Bubi 1.0 to 2.0, so this time the company has opted for a preventative approach by ending the longer-term product.
Bubi 3.0: A new era for bike sharing
The company added that the future system aims to promote urban cycling with a more flexible and expansive fleet at affordable prices. Launching in 2026, the new version will significantly expand its coverage area and feature a larger fleet that includes electric-assist bikes.
The procurement process to determine the next service provider is already underway, with the winner expected to be announced within a few months. The new bikes are set to gradually appear on Budapest streets starting in early 2026.
According to BKK, the upcoming system will include at least 5,000 bikes, with 1,000 of them offering electric pedal assistance. The expanded service area will reach neighbourhoods such as Örs vezér Square, Kőbánya-Kispest, Újpest-városkapu, the József Attila housing estate, Angyalföld, Zugló, and Őrmező.
Subscription benefits
Currently, there are two types of passes available: a monthly and a six-month option. Both plans offer the first 30 minutes of every ride free of charge, with additional usage billed at HUF 50 (EUR 0.12) per minute. The monthly pass costs HUF 1,500 (EUR 3.7), while the six-month pass is priced at HUF 6,500 (EUR 16), meaning regular users will now pay an extra HUF 5,000 (EUR 12.4) annually. For those considering a subscription, today is their last opportunity to lock in the longer-term deal.
Of course, Bubi can also be used without a subscription. Occasional riders pay 50 forints per minute. First-time users or those redeeming a coupon or registering a new bank card must also pay a HUF 120 registration fee, which includes the cost of the first three minutes of their initial ride.
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