Bounce relaunches electric bike rentals in Bengaluru with hub-based model

Nearly two years after shutting down its popular — and often misused — bike rental service, Bengaluru-based start-up Bounce is making a comeback with a revamped rental model.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Bounce co-founder Vivekananda Hallekere announced that their electric two-wheelers can once again be rented via the company’s mobile app. “It’s not pick-up anywhere, drop anywhere,” he remarked with a smiley emoji — a nod to the earlier model that was widely exploited, with Bounce bikes frequently found abandoned on roadsides and even on flyovers.

Under the new system, users must pick up and return the scooters to designated hubs. For now, rentals are only available for a minimum of three days, with a refundable deposit of ₹2,000.

“A lot of people prefer longer-duration rentals. I’ve been in this business for 11 years and served over 30 lakh users — there are real use cases for this model,” Hallekere explained while responding to user queries on X. “This is not designed for short, point-to-point rides. We do plan to introduce shorter-duration rentals later.”

Hallekere also hinted that Bounce aims to eventually reintroduce its earlier free-floating model. The Bounce app is currently available on Android, but not yet on iOS. Details about available hubs can be accessed within the app.

There are no restrictions on where users can take the bikes — they can be ridden both within and outside Bengaluru. “We provide portable chargers so you can recharge the battery anywhere,” Hallekere added.