Aveiro makes the first hour on a BUGA bicycle free
From today, the first hour of each BUGA public-bike hire is free, while the registration fee falls from €10 to €5 and becomes account credit.
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Archived 12 September 2026Short urban journeys become cheaper, but users still need to register, end the ride correctly and understand charges after the first hour.
- The new charging model starts on 26 September.
- The first hour of a ride is free.
- Charges begin from the second hour.
- The €5 registration payment is converted into user credit.
How the new price works
The municipality has changed BUGA from a paid first hour to a free one, aiming to make the bikes more useful for ordinary short journeys. Registration remains necessary through the service's app or access-card process.
Free use is tied to the first hour, not an unlimited day. The user must check the current tariff, return rules and confirmation that the ride has ended to avoid unexpected time charges.
Check the bicycle and the route
Before leaving a station, check brakes, tyres, lights and the locking mechanism. Report a fault in the app and select another bicycle rather than beginning an unsafe ride.
Use cycle infrastructure where available, follow road rules and secure the bicycle only at an accepted return point. A free hire does not remove responsibility for safe riding or proper return.
What you can do now.
- 01
Register through the official BUGA app or card channel.
- 02
Check the post-first-hour tariff before starting.
- 03
Confirm in the system that the bicycle was returned correctly.
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