Public bicycle is a new member to the public transportation system. In recent year, European major cities encourage their citizens to choose bicycle as their tool of transportation through extensively developing the bicycle renting system, including bicycle renting station and electronic renting technology (Smart Card、Magnetic Card or Credit Card). It could be argued that bicycle could reduce the flow of traffic、the usage of energy、the release of carbon dioxide and to improve air quality and living environment within the city.
In order to reduce the air pollution within metropolitan area, and to achieve the goal of “reduce the usage of energy and release of carbon dioxide”, the Environmental Bureau of the Executive Yuan held up a evaluation and election meeting on 20th of November, 2007, and chose Kaohsiung city as the first trial city for public bicycle self renting system to encourage citizens to choose bicycle as their short-distance transportation tool to connect with the subway. Through the public bicycle self rental system, the government wishes to provide citizens a greener and easier choice of transportation tool.
Nowadays, the bicycle lane within Kaohsiung city has extended to more than 200 Kilometers, yet the City Council decided to sign up a contract with Tung Li Development Co., Ltd on 18th of November, 2008, as to maximize the potential of the public bicycle rental system to connect with the city’s subway system. According to the 1 year contract, Tung Li Development Co., Ltd is responsible for setting up the soft and hard ware of the public bicycle rental system, as well as the operation (which Tung Li agrees to extend 4 years), which aims to provide a convenient public bicycle rental service with a safe bicycle ride environment, and to enhance a transportation service connect with the assistance of bicycle within the city.
According to the contract, “Demonstration plan of establishing connective public bicycle rental system by Kaohsiung city.” which starts from 18th of November, 2008 to 9th of December, 2009 (Due to delay upon establishment) includes: Establish more than 50 public bicycle rental stations、provides 4,500 public bicycles for rental、establish self or semi-self rental demonstration system、manage and operate the system、held up public bicycle propaganda and promotion、attend to all the work reviews and educational trainings relating to this plan, that provides by government officials.
According to the plan, all the public bicycle rental station should be establish around area with intense traffic flow in the city. The first public bicycle self rental system was establish with 20 self rental stations 3 months after the contract was signed (18th of February, 2009), and another 30 self rental stations were established on 18th of May, 2009. After all, there will be more than 50 rental stations established when the entire system is set up, including 50 self rental stations (20 of them located along the Kaohsiung MRT stations) and 6 semi-self rental stations (3 at Merida bicycle shop). Each self rental station provides maximum 32 bicycles with fully automatic control system and bicycle lock, and the entire renting process is also control by an electronic system. On the other hand, the semi-self rental station at Love Pier provides 250 bicycles for rental.
All the public bicycles were high quality model specially designed by Merida, and these unique characteristics includes low standover height、aluminum alloy main structure、3 scales transmission、motorized electronic lights、light reflection design and exclusively designed bike, etc. Moreover, the main body color and AD on the fender board were developed according to CIS. At 18th of May, 2009, there are totally 4,500 public bicycles launched into operation.
In terms of operation management of the rental system, cash flow plan and membership cards plan were applied together with trial ride for individuals and social groups、customer service and maintenance operation. On the other hand, official website with “Chinese version”、”English version” and” Disable accessible version” were established by the end of January, 2009, which includes introduction to Kaohsiung bicycle tour、rental information、activity information、membership service、social groups and propaganda films. Until middle of December, more the 120 thousand people have visited the website.
The result of the propaganda activity includes tens of thousands of DM and posters, more than 30 thousands free gifts, 16 thousands “ A complete guide to public bicycle tour in Kaohsiung ” and commercial slogan deployed among Kaohsiung MRT stations and all other corners within the city to promote public bicycle rental system. Nevertheless, there were 3 large scale propaganda activities held according to the contract. First of all, the “ Lover Pier & Cijin Bike Tour “ held during Chinese New Year at the Love Pier rental station, which aims to introduce the first self rental public bicycle system of Taiwan to the citizen of Kaohsiung. Secondly, the “Kaohsiung Summer bicycle festival” , which aim to promote insight city tour and to celebrate the establishment of number 50 rental station, and attracts more than four thousands people to join. The third activity was the “Ride for happiness and the environment race”, which has the total prize of 5 millions NT dollars, and the press meeting on the launch of C-bike card. Moreover, “Green Thursday” promotional activity was also launched during that time, which aims to invite citizens of Kaohsiung to make the city greener with C-Bike.
Since the operation started at the middle of February, to the end of November 2009, there are more than 130 thousands people using the public bicycle rental system. 56% of them used credit cards, and 42% of them used membership cards pay rental charge. 84% of them rent the bicycle at point A and return at point B, and 16% of them rent and return bicycle at the same point. Moreover, the 130 thousands rental is equals 5.6 millions riding minutes and 1.25 millions Km, which reduced more than 160 MT of carbon dioxide emission.
