İSBIKE System
Istanbul is one of several international cities offering increasingly diversified alternative transportation options, including its own short-term bike rental program. The İSBIKE system has been in the works since 2009 and since its launch in 2013 has grown to include 1500 bikes over 140 stations. While the majority of stations and bikes are located on the European side of the city, there is no shortage on the Asian side either. Recognizable for their distinctive blue and white color palate, the İSBIKE stations feature groups of 10-20 bikes that can be used for short term rentals to get around the city. Most stations are along the water where bike paths are flatter and less likely to be interrupted by street crossings. Besides commuting, this also makes them the perfect mode of transportation for a relaxing coastside tour or waterfront picnic.
The bikes are made by Baksi, who are also responsible for bikeshare systems in Izmir, Eskisehir, Antbis, and other cities in Turkey. Nearly every bike is the same: a 3-gear, aluminum step-through frame with 26” tires featuring mud fenders, an adjustable seat, and a front basket. There is no rear rack or lights, but there are rear reflectors. Another model can occasionally be found that features automatically flashing front and rear lights after dark. This second model can be identified by a full-frame front basket. Helmets are not included or available at rental stations.
İSBIKE Prices
İSBIKE prices vary depending on payment method and whether you want to commit to one of the two yearly membership options. As of June 2020, they are as follows:
| Plan Cost | Free Minutes | Up to 1 Hour | Up to 2 Hours | Up to 3 Hours | Every Additional Hour | |
| Yearly Membership – Plus | 70 TL
(yearly) |
30 minutes | 3.5 TL | 5 TL | 7 TL | 5 TL |
| Yearly Membership – Standard | 23 TL
(yearly) |
None | 3.5 TL | 5 TL | 7 TL | 5 TL |
| Pay As You Go | 50 TL
(deposit per bike) |
None | 4 TL | 6 TL | 8 TL | 5 TL |
The most up-to-date prices can be viewed at the Turkish-language İSBIKE website. The biggest difference between the Standard and Plus versions of the yearly membership options is the free 30 minutes included with the Plus plan. Regular commuters with a less than 30-minute commute would benefit the most from this plan. The 30 minutes free is reset every two hours, so it’s not possible to renew the free time just by docking and immediately re-renting a bike.
Both Yearly plans use a stored balance that can be recharged by credit card at the docking station terminals or on the İSBIKE mobile application. The Pay As You Go plan is charged against a credit card at the station terminal or on the app. 50 TL is blocked on the card against the rental of the bike and once the bike is returned the block is reversed, minus the charge for the time used.
Renting an İSBIKE
Finding a station is easy thanks to the İSBIKE website, which also updates with live bike and dock availability. The rental process begins at the tower terminal at the docking station. Available in English and Turkish, on-screen instructions guide you through adding a balance to your Yearly account or renting a bike against your credit card.
The tower terminal isn’t very intuitive to use in either language and on a recent post-quarantine weekend people were observed at two different stations spending over 20 minutes trying to figure out how to rent a bike. İSBIKE offers support by Whatsapp at +90 543 972 19 64 or by calling 153. Whatsapp support is not instantaneous however, with an average response time of a couple of days.
The tower terminal offers the ability to see your balance, recent history, and rent a new bike, however the ‘one-time code’ to unlock the bike from a dock is actually sent to your provided phone number instead of being displayed on the same tower system. Each dock has a small keypad to enter the sent code which will unlock the bike from the dock for your use. You’re ready to go!
As an alternative to the tower terminal, the İSBIKE app (available on Android and iOS) allows you to top up your balance and get a code to rent a bike. It also lets you find the nearest bike docking stations and see your riding history.
Although the İSBIKE system works with foreign credit cards, a Turkish cell phone number is still required to create and login to your account. The tower terminals are also unreliable about printing and are sometimes defaced or scratched, making the app a better user experience. Some functionality can also be accomplished via the İSBIKE website.
Once you’ve got your bike, you’re ready to ride! If you’re looking for a nice weekend ride to try, check out our article on the Kadıköy to Pendik route.
Images courtesy of the author.
