Hamilton Bike Share Q&A

How was the Mac U-Pass created?

In 2024, the McMaster Students Union passed a referendum to introduce an annual bike pass that would cost undergraduate students $24.50 (including HST) as part of their student fees, with the option to opt-out. Approximately 95% of undergraduate student respondents supported the creation of the Hamilton Bike Share U-Pass.

 

Who is eligible?

Full-time undergraduate, graduate, and inbound exchange students who are enrolled in 18 or more units are eligible. You can verify your eligibility by checking your personal tuition fees for the “MSU – Bike Share” charge.

If ineligible, other members of the McMaster community can access a discounted monthly rate with the McMaster Community Pass (visit hamiltonbikeshare.ca for more details).

 

Can I get a discounted bike share pass if I’m not a full-time undergraduate student at Mac?

As of September 2025, full-time graduate students at McMaster are now eligible for the Mac U-Pass as well.

Other members of the McMaster community (including part-time students, faculty members, and staff) can access a discounted monthly rate with the McMaster Community Pass. This plan costs $16+HST/month and includes 90 minutes of free riding every day. You must register for this pass with your McMaster email address.

This discounted pass is available thanks to a partnership with McMaster University to promote sustainability and increase bike share access through sponsored hubs and discounted passes. We do not currently have partnerships to offer discounted passes through any other educational institutions.

 

Do I need a credit card to create my U-Pass account?

A credit card is not required to create a U-Pass account. You may add a credit card or Visa debit card to your account at any time to pay for features that have an additional cost, like riding more than 90 minutes or locking outside of a hub.

Your U-Pass comes with a $10 credit to get you started. Please note that your pass will freeze if your account balance is less than $0. If this happens, add a credit card or Visa debit card to your account to continue riding, or contact our Customer Support team for assistance at help@hamiltonbikeshare.ca.

 

What does the U-Pass include? Is usage unlimited?

The McMaster U-Pass includes 90 minutes of free ride time each day. Exceeding the free daily ride time or renting more than one bike at a time (guest riders) has an additional cost of 15??¢/min per bike. Locking outside of our free designated parking hubs costs a $1 convenience fee. The U-Pass includes an initial $10 account credit to help pay for features that have an additional cost.

 

How do you pay?

The $24.50 payment is built into student fees (as part of tuition) and paid via your student account.

A credit card is not required to create a U-Pass account, but you may add a credit card or Visa debit card to your account at any time in the Social Bicycles platform. Please note that your pass will freeze if your account balance drops below $0 and you have not yet added a payment method. Otherwise, overages will accrue and be billed automatically once credits are depleted.

Riders can also earn an additional credit of 75¢ for each out-of-hub bike returned to a hub.

 

How do I start my first trip?

1. If you have a smart phone with mobile data, download the free Social Bicycles (SoBi) app and log in to your account. Alternatively, you can acquire an RFID Access Card or link your Presto card to your account.

2. Approach one of our hubs and wake any bike by pressing the hold button on the rear controller. The 3 flashing lights indicate that the bike is loading. When the lights are solid green, that means the bike is ready!

3. Select “Scan to unlock” on the map page in order to scan the QR code on the back of the bike, or tap the Access Card linked to your account right on top of the green lights.

4. Voila! The bike will unlock and you can remove the u-bar and place it in the left-side holster to keep with you during your ride.

Looking for additional support? Follow @HamOntBikeShare on Instagram for rider tips and to learn more about pop-up events and in-person support opportunities on campus.

 

Where can I ride?

The Hamilton Bike Share service area spans from Dundas to Kenilworth Ave in the lower city, with a seasonal satellite hub at Van Wagner’s beach.  All hubs and the service area boundary are visible on the map in the SoBi app. You do not need to return your bike to the same hub you started from.

If you need to make a brief stop outside of the service area, the bike must be placed on “hold” (for up to 60min) in the app to keep the rental active and reserved for you until you resume the ride to end your trip within the service area. While the bike is on hold, it must be locked to a secure object on public property (e.g. post, pole, or public bike rack). If you do not resume your ride within 60min, your trip will automatically end and you will be charged for any applicable out of hub or out of service area fees.

 

Where can I park?

Lock your bike to any of our designated hubs for free, or lock out of hub to public infrastructure within the service area, such as a sign pole or city bike rack ($1 convenience fee applies). On campus, you can also lock up for free at any public bike rack. Check the Social Bicycles app to see hubs and racks that are designated free parking.

Leaving a bike unlocked and unattended or locking a bike to itself without tethering it to a secure object is not allowed under any circumstances. Penalties apply for improper locking.

You must end your trip within the service area. If you lock up a bike outside of the system, there is a cost to our team to collect that bike and you will be charged a $25 retrieval penalty.

 

How do I end my trip?

To end your trip, lock your bike to a suitable object and reinsert the u-bar. Always give the bar a tug before walking away, to ensure it is secured. Then open your app and choose “end ride” on the rental page to finalize the trip.

If your trip continues on in the app after locking, adjust the bike, double-check the lock and reach out to Customer Support.

 

My U-Pass isn’t working. What should I do?                                           

Contact our Customer Support team at help@hamiltonbikeshare.ca.

 

I have a transit pass. When would I use bike share?

Bike share complements transit and is great for first and last mile connectivity. Unlike many bus routes, bike share is available 24 hours a day and is a great way to get between your bus/train stop and destination or to avoid inconvenient transfers for a leg of your journey. Bike share can also be a great option to get from one side of campus to another between classes or pop out to local businesses to grab lunch or run errands.

Bike share is also great for leisure! Many riders use the system for fun rides and to integrate more physical activity into their lives.

 

I already own a bike. Why would I need bike share? When would I use it?

Even those who own a bike can benefit from bike share. For impromptu trips, it’s easy to grab a bike from any station, even if you don’t have your bike with you. If you take transit on a rainy morning, you can take a bike home if the sky clears. If you are worried about bike theft, you can use bike share for trips where your own bike may not be able to be safely stored.

 

What do I do if the bike is in need of repair?

Hamilton Bike Share has staff working daily to maintain, inspect and rebalance the bikes. If you encounter a mechanical issue, press the “Repair” option at the bottom of the rental page in the Social Bicycles app before you lock the bike. This will ensure that the bike is not available for others to ride until Hamilton Bike Share staff tend to the issue.

If you missed the window to report a repair, you can contact our Customer Support team at help@hamiltonbikeshare.ca.

 

How can I stay safe while riding?

All Hamilton Bike Share bikes come equipped with front and rear lighting, a bell, and reflectors. Here are some other tips to help you have a safe and enjoyable ride:

• Plan your route: look for designated bike lanes, multi-use trails, and quiet residential streets. Click here for the City of Hamilton’s Bike Map.

• Stop at stop lights and signs. Yield to pedestrians and be aware of other road users.

• Ride with the flow of traffic and stay 1 meter from curbs and parked cars. This makes you more visible to other road users.

• Do not ride on sidewalks. Sidewalks are for slow moving traffic like pedestrians.

• Be predictable. Ride at a steady pace and use hand signals to let drivers and other cyclists know your intention to turn or stop.

 

Am I required to wear a helmet?

According to Ontario legislation, cyclists over the age of 18 are not required to wear helmets. All riders who are 16 or ­17 must wear a helmet. Helmets are available to purchase at local bike shops like Freewheel Cycle in Dundas and Downtown Bike Hounds in downtown Hamilton, as well as recreation departments in larger stores (e.g. Canadian Tire, Walmart).