Read on for details on our first Free Ride Day!
Cogeco and Hamilton Bike Share are teaming up to offer Hamilton residents a new opportunity to try out the bike share system this summer, with a Free Ride Day on Sunday, June 7th, 2026 from 9 AM to 9 PM. Free Ride Day will coincide with the first Open Streets event of the year, which will transform a 3.3 km stretch of King St from John St to Gage Avenue into a vibrant, car-free space for walking, biking, rolling, and community activations from 10 AM - 4 PM on the same day.
New and existing riders can enjoy up to three hours of free ride time during the promotional period. Rides can be accessed through the Social Bicycles app by logging into an existing account or creating a new account and selecting the Pay As You Go membership option. Three hours of ride time will automatically be made free for users regardless of their membership type for any trip started between 9 AM and 9 PM on June 7th. Rides can be taken anywhere within the bike share service area, which extends from Dundas to Kenilworth Ave below the escarpment.
“We hope as many people as possible take advantage of Free Ride Day, which we’re able to offer thanks to the generous support of Cogeco, our long-standing Basket Brand sponsor,” says Julia Hamill, Hamilton Bike Share’s Programs and Partnerships Director. “This is a way to say thank you to our existing riders - by doubling their normal daily ride time to allow for longer recreational rides during Open Streets - and to invite folks who have never used the system to give it a try and see what bike share is all about.”
“At Cogeco, we believe in creating an environment where every neighbour feels a true sense of belonging in the spaces we share as a community,” says Tim Caddigan, Senior Director, Programming and Community Engagement, Cogeco. “Our mission is rooted in building connections, and by opening the doors to everyone for Free Ride Day, we are helping to link our neighbourhoods together in a more accessible way. We want June 7th to be the day every Hamiltonian can hop on a bike and realize just how connected our community can truly be.”
“We are excited to be working with Hamilton Bike Share and Cogeco on this new opportunity for residents to explore the bike share service area, especially during Open Streets on King,” says Peter Topalovic, Manager of Active Transportation and Mobility at the City of Hamilton. “This is also a great chance for residents to explore Hamilton’s growing cycling and trail network in an active and sustainable way.”
About Hamilton Bike Share
Hamilton Bike Share Inc. (HBSI) is the not-for-profit operator of the Hamilton Bike Share system with the mission to enhance the quality of urban life by improving equitable access to bicycles in Hamilton. The transportation service launched in 2015 in partnership with the City of Hamilton, and is used by residents and visitors year-round. The service area extends from Dundas to Kenilworth Ave across the lower city. The bike share service is funded by grants, user revenues, sponsorships, and municipal contributions.