Midwest Bikeshare, Inc.

Bublr wants bicycles to be an accessible, convenient and integrated travel option for everyone and our part in this puzzle is to deliver a sustainable, excellent bike share system for all.

B3 Workforce Development Program

Bublr’s B3 Workforce Development Program celebrated its 6th year in 2021. This partnership with DreamBikes, the Boys & Girls Club, and MATC allows students to become certified bikeshare mechanics while developing both technical and soft skills. Graduates of the program can apply to related trades programs at MATC and skip the entry waitlist. There have been over 50 graduates of the program since the program launched in 2016.

Adaptive Bike Program

In 2019 Bublr launched a pilot adaptive bike program with support from the City of Milwaukee, the City of Wauwatosa, The Ability Center, and the Anthem Foundation. This program integrates upright tricycles, hand-cycles, and side-by-side tricycles into the Bublr system to ensure that people with different abilities can still access the Bublr System.

Bublr Bikes Access Pass

Residents of the Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee, as well as those with SSI, WIC, or Foodshare benefits can get an annual Bublr Bikes Access Pass for just $8. Anthem/Blue Cross Blue Shield offset the $8 in 2020 and 2021 making the pass FREE. Bublr provided more than 800 free passes since 2020.

A Cleaner Environment

Bublr trips have reduced CO2 emissions by more than 817 tons since we launched in 2014.

Savvy Cycling Classes

In 2020 and 2021 Bublr hosted 16 Savvy Cycling Classes to ensure people know how to use the Bublr System and feel as comfortable as possible riding in the city. These classes were free to attend and participants received a free helmet, free 30-Day Bublr Pass and information on how to use the Bublr System as well as instruction on safe riding practices.

Bublr has a dedicated and skilled staff, an engaged board, and great community partners.

On June 23, 2015 Bublr finalized an agreement with the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee (UWM) to install a six-station expansion in and around the UWM campus. Bublr also commissioned an equity report, Bublr Bikes: A Bike Share System for All Milwaukeeans, which was released on July 8, 2015. The report detailed Bublr's commitment to, and actionable steps for, providing a bike share system for all. In 2016 Bublr launched the B3 Workforce Development Program in collaboration with DreamBikes and the Boys & Girls Club. 2016 is also the year Bublr launched its first equity program in collaboration with the Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee (HACM) which was funded in part by a BBSP grant. This program was based around two stations installed at HACM developments and included sustained outreach and engagement efforts (that were partially led by recent graduates of the B3 Workforce Development Program), a cash payment option, and 90% discounts off Annual Passes for HACM residents.

In 2019, Bublr partnered with the Anthem Foundation, the Cities of Milwaukee and Wauwatosa, and the Ability Center to integrate adaptive bikes directly into the Bublr system. Bublr also partnered with Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield to rebrand the equity pass program as the Access Pass and to expand the locations where cash payment was accepted to all Progressive Community Health Center locations. As 2019 ended, the 40th student graduated the B3 Workforce Development Program.

In 2020, Bublr and Anthem expanded the Access Pass program to include all HACM residents, anyone eligible for FoodShare, SSI, Medicaid, or Medicare, and made the Access Pass completely free. With these changes nearly 500 people have taken advantage of the Access Pass this year. As the COVID-19 pandemic hit Milwaukee, Bublr started offering $5 30-Day Passes (83% off) to all essential workers and nearly 200 people signed up. Bublr was also recognized as a 2020 Focus on the Future Honoree by The Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce for its COVID response. Bublr has been committed to being a resource to the community during the pandemic so it sought additional funding to do more, and through a grant from the Anonymous Fund at the Greater Milwaukee Foundation Bublr was able to offer free 30-Day passes to all Milwaukee County residents during the month of June. This promotion was redeemed 1,738 times and used for 4,461 trips. In June, as justified anger and grief swept the country in response to the murder of George Floyd and protests occurred in many places, including Milwaukee, Bublr made the decision to maintain operations. After the murder of another Black man, Jacob Blake, and in commemoration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr’s historic march on Washington, Bublr again offered free 30-Day passes to all Milwaukee County residents for the month of September.