Public transport in Budapest has been continuously evolving, and over the past 10 years, shared mobility options have gained significant popularity. Among these, two transportation methods have stood out the most: community bikes and community e-scooters.
Among shared bicycles, MOL Bubi is the most popular and affordable option in Budapest, especially for students.
When it comes to shared e-scooters, three main service providers operate in the city:
- Lime
- Tier (soon rebranding to Dott)
- Bird
For a while, e-mopeds were also popular in Budapest, primarily blinkee.city. However, the company ceased its operations in Budapest in 2024.
These modern, sustainable means offer a fast and flexible way to get around the city while contributing to reducing pollution. They act as an alternative to public transport in Budapest. However, they also come with some drawbacks: they are considered more dangerous than traditional public transport.
Additionally, e-scooters have two further disadvantages:
- High rental costs compared to other transport options.
- Changing legal regulations, making their use somewhat unpredictable.
Although the accommodations of Diáklakás are close to excellent public transport options, sometimes hopping on a community bike can be a faster and more convenient way to get to university. Especially if a student overslept or is struggling to wake up after a long night out – and their lecture is about to start soon…
Let’s take a closer look at how these options work in Budapest and the benefits of using them.
Community Biking in Budapest
The most popular community bike-sharing service in Budapest is MOL Bubi. MOL Bubi is the official community bike system of the capital, operated by Budapest Transport Centre (BKK) in cooperation with MOL, the oil industry company.
According to the latest data (2024), 207 MOL Bubi stations are available across Budapest. There is always at least one station near universities, so students can confidently hop on a Bubi bike, knowing that there will be a docking station close to their university.
Using MOL Bubi is incredibly simple. To use it, first, you need to register via the app or website. After activating your account and providing your personal details, you can already rent a MOL Bubi bike.
The bikes are available at docking stations throughout Budapest. To rent one, simply scan the QR code on the back of the selected bike using the MOL Bubi app. After a beep, the bike is ready for use.
If the user has finished their ride, they must return the bike to another MOL Bubi docking station. Once the smart lock is closed, the process is complete. Under no circumstances should the bike be left outside a docking station, as this results in a 5,000 HUF (~12 EUR, ~13 USD) penalty.
It is possible to pause the ride and park the bike midway, but the parking time counts towards the total ride duration (thus increasing the rental cost), so it is best not to leave a MOL Bubi bike parked for too long.
How much does MOL Bubi cost?
If the user does not have a pass, the pay-as-you-go price is 50 HUF/minute (~0.12 EUR, ~0.13 USD), and before the first use, a 100 HUF (~0.25 EUR, ~0.26 USD) registration fee must be paid.
Two types of MOL Bubi passes are available:
- Monthly pass: 1,500 HUF/month (~3.7 EUR, ~3.9 USD). The first 30 minutes of every ride are free.
- Six-month pass: 6,500 HUF/semester (~16 EUR, ~16.7 USD). The first 30 minutes of every ride are free.
Another advantage is that the service provider—uncharacteristically for Hungary—continuously updates and improves the service. This ensures that users, especially students, can count on a high-quality service for their money.
Personal bike or community solution?
- The advantage of having your own bike is that it is always available, and you don’t have to look for docking stations.
- However, community bikes are maintained, and there is no need to worry about theft or storage.
Budapest’s cycling infrastructure is constantly developing, with more and more bike lanes being built.
Community E-Scooter Transportation in Budapest
Several community e-scooter providers operate in Budapest, with the three most popular being Lime, Tier (soon to be renamed Dott), and Bird. These systems allow users to rent scooters via a mobile application, enabling them to travel quickly across the city. Within designated zones, users can park their scooters anywhere.
To use e-scooters, users must download the app, register, and follow a process similar to MOL Bubi.
However, the pricing structure of Budapest’s community electric scooters differs from that of MOL Bubi. In addition to a base fee (unlock fee), there is also a per-minute charge. Each provider has different pricing.
Lime
- unlock fee is 250 HUF (~0.65 EUR, ~0.70 USD)
- per-minute fee is 68 HUF/min (~0.17 EUR, ~0.18 USD)
- A 5-minute ride costs 590 HUF (~1.47 EUR, ~1.54 USD), while a 20-minute ride costs 1610 HUF (~4 EUR, ~4.2 USD).
Tier (Dott)
- unlock fee is 295 HUF (~0.73 EUR, ~0.76 USD)
- per-minute fee 75 HUF/min (~0.19 EUR, ~0.2 USD).
- A 5-minute ride costs 670 HUF (~1.67 EUR, ~1.75 USD), while a 20-minute ride costs 1795 HUF (~4.46 EUR, ~4.67 USD).
Bird
- unlock fee is 295 HUF (~0.73 EUR, ~0.76 USD)
- per-minute fee 65 HUF/min (~0.17 EUR, ~0.18 USD).
A 5-minute ride costs 620 HUF (~1.54 EUR, ~1.61 USD), while a 20-minute ride costs 1595 HUF (~3.97 EUR, ~4.16 USD).
The Advantages and Disadvantages of Community Biking and E-Scooter Use
If you want to travel shorter distances within Budapest (up to 20-30 minutes away), it is definitely worth using a community bike or scooter—especially a bike. With a MOL Bubi subscription, the first 30 minutes of each ride are free, meaning there is no per-minute charge. As a student, you can reach most places within 30 minutes, particularly if your home is in a central location, like the Diáklakás.
The advantage of electric scooters is that they are fast and flexible, particularly useful for short distances, such as between public transport hubs. Due to their small size, there is almost no chance of getting stuck in traffic, as they can easily maneuver around obstacles.
However, electric scooters also have disadvantages. Not all areas allow parking, and they are expensive for long distances (especially compared to MOL Bubi and public transport options). Their small size increases the risk of accidents, making riders more prone to collisions with pedestrians or injuries due to poor road conditions. Since e-scooters are quite fast, riders tend to become overconfident, which raises the likelihood of accidents.
Another drawback is the ever-changing legal regulations surrounding e-scooters, making it uncertain how future costs will be affected—such as the potential introduction of mandatory insurance or helmet requirements.
However, when using these modern transport options, always be mindful of parking rules and pay extra attention to your surroundings while biking or scootering. Budapest’s traffic culture and infrastructure still have room for improvement. Whether mandatory or not, it is always a good idea to wear a helmet when using community bikes and e-scooters.
Is it worth using community bikes and community e-scooters in Budapest?
Yes, absolutely! Using community bikes and scooters undeniably has many economic and environmental advantages. They are much more sustainable since their use reduces air pollution and noise levels. Additionally, they are cheaper than cars or traditional public transport, although this is not always the case for e-scooters on longer trips.
Community bikes and scooters are increasingly significant in Budapest’s transportation system, offering a great and sustainable alternative to traditional transport. If you use them wisely, you can save time, money, and energy while reducing your ecological footprint. And let’s be honest—it’s a lot of fun cruising through the city with your friends after university, heading to the nearest burger joint or pub!
