The Hanoi Department of Transport has developed a detailed plan for the 12-month public bicycle pilot project in six metropolitan districts.

Ho Chi Minh City is the first locality in the country that explores bicycle-for-rent services. Photo: The Hanoi Times

Accordingly, the Hanoi transport department selected Tri Nam Group JSC as the service provider.

The company will install 94 bike docking stations with a total investment of VND30 billion (US$1.21 million) to provide 1,000 bicycles for rent. Half of the bikes are electrical.

The fee for using a regular bicycle is VND5,000 (US20 cents) for 30 minutes, while riding an electric bicycle for 30 minutes would cost VND10,000.

The all-day rate is VND60,000 for a regular bicycle and VND120,000 for an electric bicycle.

Users can pay the rental monthly, quarterly, and annually through cash, bank app, and e-wallet. There will also be a specific app that allows users to search, book and unlock the bicycles.

The six urban districts subject to the pilot program are Ba Dinh, Dong Da, Tay Ho, Hoan Kiem, Hai Ba Trung, and Thanh Xuan.

Most of the bicycles will be placed in the districts of Ba Dinh (340 bicycles), Hoan Kiem (280 bikes), Tay Ho (242), and Dong Da (100). A hundred bikes will be available in Hai Ba Trung and Thanh Xuan districts.

Tri Nam Group also asks for the free use of sidewalks to install bicycle docking stations.

According to the Hanoi Department of Transport, the bike-sharing scheme will enhance the quality of public transport, change people's mobility behavior and reduce environmental pollution.

Dao Viet Long, Director of the Hanoi Department of Transport, said that the city would evaluate Tri Nam Group’s request for the free use of pavements to best facilitate the public bike service.

Hanoi will study similar models deployed in HCM City and Vung Tau for a better submission to the local government for a final decision, Long said.

According to Tri Nam Group, it is impossible to implement free public bicycle services without additional sponsorship. It will take seven years for the company to recoup its investment in the service at the aforementioned fare levels.

Prior to Hanoi, Tri Nam Group launched the bike-sharing service in HCM City, Danang, Vung Tau, and Quy Nhon. Among these localities, HCM City was the first to deploy the scheme in December 2021.