Themed “Smart City & Green Commuting”, the launching ceremony of Changsha Public Bike Rental System & Thousand Citizens Test Ride was held in Changsha on Sept. 22, the very day of the World Car Free Day. The city’s first public bike rental service will be open to the public soon.
The first phase of the system construction was initiated this April with its stations placed in Xianjiangxincun Community of Yuelu District. Up till now, 100 stations have been built in Yuelu District and Tianxin District. 100 more are expected to be added and put into use by the end of this year. 50,000 bikes will be in use in 2,000 planned places within five years.
A public bike rental system is a network of shared bicycles available for short-term use. The system is based on a tiered pricing policy and the first hour is free. Residents between 16 to 65 years old can get the service done with an ID card.
The public bike rental system aligns with the city’s transportation plan of making cycling a viable, sustainable transportation option and establishing a comprehensive public transport network that integrates public bus, subway, public bike, taxicab, and bus rapid transit.
Free ride for one hour
A thousand of cyclists are ready to start.
Translator: Xiao Juan
Source: Hunan Official Web Portal