The rise of bike leasing

Commuting in the Bay Area is no easy feat. Traffic, long drives, and the search for sustainable travel leave many of us wondering if there’s a better way to get to work. At Lease a Bike, we believe there is—bike leasing.

Local bike shop partner spotlight: Summit Bicycles

We recently spoke with Pancho Pimentel, general manager at Summit Bicycles, a local partner who sees firsthand how bike leasing is reshaping commuting. Pancho’s shops serve communities surrounded by major employers in Silicon Valley, Palo Alto, Burlingame, San Jose, and Los Gatos.

Leasing bikes helps us put more people on bikes. Lease a Bike helps us do that. It’s business-as-usual for people in the bike industry to ride an e-bike, but there are still millions of people who haven’t tried them. Leasing opens the door for people to discover new possibilities on e-bikes.

• Pancho Pimentel, General Manager, Summit Bicycles

And it’s not just Summit, bike leasing is gaining momentum across the Bay Area as more employers recognize its potential.

Pancho’s experience reflects a growing trend, employees are trading driving to work for cycling, especially with e-bikes. Summit Bicycles now sees e-bikes accounting for 25% of total sales, and demand is rising as commuting needs evolve. E-bikes make longer or hilly commutes possible, keeping rides sweat-free while offering all the health and environmental benefits of cycling.

Why employees love leasing

Pancho highlights the reasons for this rising popularity for work commutes. We asked Pancho what’s driving this shift, why are bike shops and commuters embracing bike leasing? He broke it down into a few simple benefits for riders:

• Tailored flexibility: Whether you need a city cruiser or a premium e-bike, leasing offers options to suit different lifestyles.
• Cost-effective travel: Affordable monthly payments mean you can access high-quality bicycles without large upfront costs.
• Stress-free experience: Repairs and insurance are often included, so you can focus on enjoying your ride.
• Lifestyle upgrade: More commuters are realizing the joy of cycling—from faster commutes to fun family weekend rides.

Why employers should care

For companies, offering bike leasing through Lease a Bike is more than an employee perk, it’s a strategy for supporting a healthy, happy, and productive workforce. This surge of active, happy commuters creates a huge opportunity for forward-thinking companies. Here’s how we see the benefits:

• Boost Productivity & well-being: Active employees are more energized, happy, and productive.
• Attract & retain top talent: Offering a sustainable, healthy commute is a competitive benefit today's workforce is seeking.
• Meet your eco-friendly goals: Reducing your company's carbon footprint is good for your people and your company brand.
• Fully managed solutions: Our digital portal takes care of logistics, maintenance, and admin, making the process simple and hassle-free.

Building a cycling ecosystem

Bike leasing works best when we create an ecosystem of bike shops, employers, and employees, connected by our Lease a Bike platform. We see a future where sustainable commuting is accessible to everyone. This model brings real value for everyone—bike shops see more customers, employees enjoy affordable commuting, and companies meet their sustainability and wellness goals

Ready to join the movement?

We’re committed to making bike leasing easy, affordable, and practical for both employers and employees in the San Francisco Bay Area—and beyond. We can transform daily commutes together.

Explore more at: Lease a Bike