Rekola is a Czech bicycle-sharing system founded in Prague in 2013 by Vít Ježek. It began as a volunteer project in which donated and second-hand bicycles were refurbished, painted pink and made available for sharing, before developing into a professional bicycle-sharing operator.
Rekola operates in cities in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Estonia and Poland, including Prague, Bratislava and Tallinn. Its distinctive pink bicycles are located and unlocked using the Rekola mobile application and are returned to designated parking areas. The service includes conventional bicycles and e-bikes. Rekola recorded more than two million rides in 2024, nearly 50 percent more than in the previous year.
History
Rekola was founded in Prague in 2013 by Vít Ježek as a volunteer bicycle-sharing project. Its first bicycles were donated or bought second-hand, repaired by volunteers and painted pink. In the same year the service expanded to Brno. Then in 2014, Rekola expanded to Olomouc, and in 2015 to České Budějovice.
In 2016, investment fund Spread Capital, founded by Czech entrepreneur Ondřej Fryc, acquired a minority stake in Rekola to support its further development and expansion.
Rekola first expanded abroad in 2018, launching a bicycle-sharing service in Vaasa, Finland. The Finnish operation ended in 2020, while a new service launched in Bratislava in September of that year.
During the COVID-19 pandemic in the Czech Republic in March 2020, Rekola offered free 30-minute rides for two weeks across its Czech operations. Sponsored by Rohlik.cz and Prusa Research, the programme was intended to provide an alternative to crowded public transport.
In October 2021, Prague began a pilot programme integrating Rekola and competitor Nextbike with the Lítačka public-transport system. Holders of prepaid Prague transport passes could use shared bicycles for short journeys without an additional fee. More than 72,000 rides were made during the first three months, and the scheme was later continued as part of Prague Integrated Transport.
Rekola expanded to Tallinn, Estonia, in 2024, launching there with 200 bicycles. In the same year, the company recorded more than two million rides, nearly 50 percent more than in 2023.
