The Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality has selected Turkish shared micromobility operator Tripy as its shared e-bike provider for the next decade.
Under a 10-year agreement, Tripy will deploy an initial fleet of 700 shared e-bikes within the next three months, expected to scale next year based on demand and performance.
Tripy, which is active in five Turkish markets, views Istanbul not only as the operator’s sixth market but as the ultimate “stress test” for micromobility.
“Istanbul represents one of the most demanding urban environments globally,” Tripy CEO Dr. Ali Onuralp Ünal told Zag Daily. “It is Europe’s largest city with over 15 million residents, one of the most congested cities in the world and a major global tourism hub with tens of millions of annual visitors.”
Istanbul recently ranked as the world’s most congested city for the second year in a row, according to transport analytics company Inrix.
Dr. Ünal said that, for micromobility, that congestion translates into volatile demand. The city’s vast metropolitan footprint requires “intelligent” fleet balancing, tourism generates seasonal and daily demand spikes, mixed-use public spaces place great emphasis on strict parking compliance and Istanbul’s hilly topography puts vehicle durability and battery performance to the test.
“Our AI-driven optimisation, strong operational teams and experience in large-scale Turkish cities prepare us for exactly this level of complexity,” Dr Ünal said.
Inside Tripy’s Istanbul rollout
Beyond the initial 700 e-bikes, Tripy will supply its virtual parking infrastructure and fleet management platform while overseeing full operational delivery in Istanbul.
The system will run on a fleet-floating model supported by AI-powered virtual parking stations and geo-fenced digital parking zones rather than fixed docks.
Zag recently dissected Tripy’s mobility ecosystem which also includes real-time demand and fleet monitoring, 24/7 field operations, in-app customer support and dedicated repair workshops.
During its first year in Istanbul, the company says its rollout strategy will be “demand-led rather than geography-limited”.
“Istanbul users may ride along coastal corridors for leisure, commute from residential districts or use bikes for first and last-mile transport,” Dr Ünal said.
“We will prioritise wherever real user demand emerges. Through ride data, usage heatmaps and direct feedback, we will dynamically adapt fleet distribution. Flexibility and responsiveness will define our first year.”
Structured data sharing will also form a central pillar of the partnership. Tripy plans to deliver monthly, quarterly and annual performance reports to the municipality, covering trip volumes, origin-destination heatmaps, fleet availability, parking compliance rates, safety indicators and environmental impact metrics such as estimated CO₂ reductions.
In addition to formal reporting, the operator intends to hold regular coordination meetings and strategic reviews with city officials, positioning itself as a long-term mobility partner rather than a short-term service provider.
Tripy’s growth trajectory sharpens
A decade-long agreement in a city the size of Istanbul marks a significant milestone for the Turkish operator.
Ten-year contracts remain uncommon in micromobility but Tripy has made it standard practice. The company is currently serving under exclusive 10-year contracts in regions including Izmir, Sakarya and Eskişehir’s Tepebaşı district.
Earlier this month, Tripy added Konya to its pipeline – the 2026 European Capital of Cycling – and the operator has also partnered with Hatay Metropolitan Municipality to support post-earthquake rebuilding efforts following the devastating 2023 disaster.
While the Istanbul agreement is not an exclusive contract, its scale and prominence make it a defining addition to the company’s portfolio and a further endorsement of its long-term, technology-led operating model.
Meanwhile, Tripy is continuing to extend its ambitions beyond Turkey. Last year, the operator revealed it’s begun applying for tenders in the UK market, signalling the start of international expansion.
