Smart Cities Council is proud to welcome Party Onbici to the global member-based ecosystem - an innovative, community-driven startup that’s transforming how cycling and active transport are viewed in cities both in Australia and around the world.
Founded in Sydney and now operating globally, Party Onbici (formerly known as Bike Party) began as part of Transport for New South Wales' Active Transport Innovation Challenge. The mission? Encourage more people to ride bikes - especially after COVID-19 - rather than returning to private car use. In a state where the ratio of cars to cyclists is around 9 to 1, the challenge was real.
Party Onbici meets that challenge with a unique blend of technology, community engagement, and data insight. Their platform empowers people to organise and join group bike rides - bringing together elements of social media, community festivals, and urban planning. By making cycling a shared, social activity, they help people feel safer on the roads and more motivated to choose cycling over driving.
But there’s a deeper layer: the platform also enables councils and city leaders to gather valuable data on traffic flows, route popularity, and infrastructure usage. Through a dedicated dashboard, city officials can visualise where people are riding, where bottlenecks occur, and where future investment in cycling infrastructure should be prioritized. It's a win-win for communities and governments alike.
Party Onbici’s impact is already being felt far beyond Sydney. The startup was selected as one of only ten mobility companies to participate in the Tier Mobility Foundation’s Sustainable Cities Challenge - collaborating with the City of Venice to design a community cycling initiative. The result? An International Women’s Day bike ride designed to boost female participation in active transport, drawing on lessons learned in Sydney through the NSW Smart Cities Innovation Challenge.
Their work showcases the power of tailored, hyper-local engagement - whether it’s organizing female-only rides to address safety and participation, partnering with bike share providers to reduce barriers for first-time riders, or designing school-based cycling programs to spark lifelong habits.
According to founder Anthony Joseph, “We want to rekindle that childhood joy of riding your bike down to a friend’s place - not just for fun, but as a real, viable, low-carbon way to move through your city.”
Now, Party Onbici is inviting city councils, transport agencies, and community groups to collaborate through six-month pilot projects. These initiatives can be tailored to meet specific local goals - whether improving cycling safety, reducing emissions, increasing tourism options, or simply building a stronger sense of community.
Smart Cities Council looks forward to working with Anthony and the Party Onbici team as they bring their fresh thinking to one of the most important aspects of urban life: how we move. Their passion for inclusive, practical, and joyful mobility aligns perfectly with our mission to build smarter, more livable, and more resilient communities.
Welcome to the Council, Party Onbici. We’re excited to ride alongside you.
👉 Interested in a pilot project or learning more? Contact us to get connected.
