Biko App Makes US Debut; Rewards Cycling to Reduce Pollution and Congestion While Improving Rider Health and Mobility

SAN FRANCISCO, May 23, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Today Biko, a mobile application offering incentives for cycling, announced their official US launch in five major west coast cites – Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego. Already flourishing in Canada, Mexico, and Colombia, Biko improves overall quality of life by encouraging users to ride instead of drive, thereby reducing pollution and congestion while improving health and mobility.  

"Our goal at Biko is to improve the quality of life in cities by expanding the bicycling revolution, getting people on their bikes to reduce the number of vehicles on the road," said Tomás Bleier, Biko COO and co-founder. "By incentivizing people to cycle, they're realizing significant benefits to their health, their mobility, and the environment. In fact, users in other countries have collectively reduced carbon emissions by more than 2500 tons, and we look forward to achieving similar results in the US."

After downloading the free app on their smartphones, users can immediately begin earning a digital currency called bikos – with one kilometer equal to one biko – which can be redeemed with Biko partners, including local and online businesses, charities, and more. Current US partner companies include PUBLIC Bikes, Nutcase Helmets, DUER, and MOVA, as well as local businesses in each of the five cities that will benefit from increased discovery and foot traffic. US users outside of the initial launch cities can also download the app and earn bikos, redeeming them online or when visiting those cities.

"Studies indicate that the more people cycle, the safer our streets are," said Meghan Sinnott, Brand Manager, Nutcase Helmets. "If health, happiness, and safety aren't reason enough to ride, then earning points per kilometer might just be the trick to get riders excited about their every kilometer pedaled."

Today, Biko has already gained significant traction in Canada, Mexico, and Colombia, with high application engagement delivering substantive benefits to participating cities and the people who live there. Thus far, Biko has achieved:

• More than 170,000 users worldwide
• Who have earned more than 21M bikos
• And burned more than 640M calories
• While saving 2,780 tons of CO2, equivalent to taking almost 600 cars off the road for a full year
• In addition, worldwide Biko users are cycling at least 40,000 kilometers every day, equivalent to the circumference of the Earth

Other features on the app include mapping routes, measuring average speed, calculating carbon emissions saved, and recommending safe bike paths and local bike shops. This also allows Biko to offer a valuable data on urban biking behavior to city planners and advocacy groups looking to increase bike lanes and facilitate safe cycling.

To experience Biko, visit bikoapp.com or download the app on your Apple or Android devices.

About Biko

Biko is building greener, smarter and happier cities by rewarding urban cyclists with positive experiences. Biko aims to improve the quality of life in cities by finding technology-based solutions to environmental, health, transportation and mobility challenges. To learn more, visit bikoapp.com.

Facebook: facebook.com/Bikoapp
Twitter and Instagram: @BikoAppEn

Media Contact
Andrew Hussey | Porter Novelli
[email protected]
408.966.5078

SOURCE Biko

Related Links

http://biko.com.co/en