Public bicycle sharing service debuts in Hanoi
VOV.VN - Tri Nam Group on August 24 launched a public bicycle sharing service in Hanoi in an effort to keep the capital city clean and green.
In the first phase, 1,000 bicycles, including 500 electric bicycles, will be arranged at 79 stations across the city. These bicycle stations are linked to bus stops, public parks and tourist attractions.
The firm will charge VND10,000 for a 30-minute trip on electric bikes and VND5,000 for a 30-minute trip on normal bicycles. Full day hire will cost VND120,000 for an electric bike and VND60,000 for a normal bike.
Addressing the ceremony, Do Ba Dan, CEO of Tri Nam JSC, noted that during the 7-day test run starting August 16, as many as 7,454 trips had been recorded, with a combined length of nearly 47,000km. According to calculations, he said bike riders had helped reduce more than 2,844 kg of CO2 into the atmosphere as opposed to traveling by motorcycles.
Nguyen Manh Quyen, deputy head of the Hanoi government, said the city gives priority to achieving the sustainable development goal and improving the quality of life for its people. The use of clean energy vehicles, including bicycles, will help the city reduce greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere.
The development of the public bicycle sharing service will contribute to improving operational efficiency and diversifying modes of public passenger transport, gradually changing people’s travel habits, and reducing environmental pollution, noted the official.
To use the bike, riders are required to download a free public bicycle sharing application called TNGo, top up their account, and use a magnetic card or smartphone to scan the QR code on the key to unlock the bike.
The application also supports riders in finding the nearest bike station, registering for a rent, choosing a fare based on time of use, and viewing transaction history, along with offering exercisers, and measuring burned calories and travelled distance.
The bike stations do not need custodians, and users can return the bike at any station. In case the amount of money in the account is not enough, riders can continue to travel by a public e-bike, and the rental fee will be calculated the next time when they deposit money into the account.
