The Hanoi People's Committee on December 1 approved a pilot bike-sharing service in six metropolitan districts, according to the municipal Department of Transport.

Under the plan, the public bicycle-sharing service will be provided over 12 months in the six districts of Hoan Kiem, Dong Da, Thanh Xuan, Hai Ba Trung, Ba Dinh, and Tay Ho.

Ninety-four bicycle racks and 1,000 bicycles, half electric, will be put into operation. The total cost is estimated at VND30.2 billion (US$1.21 million). Ba Dinh District will receive 340 bicycles and Dong Da District 100. The rest will be distributed among Tay Ho, Hoan Kiem, Thanh Xuan, and Hai Ba Trung.

The cost for each 30-minute ride is VND5,000 ($0.2) for a pedal bike and VND10,000 ($0.4) for an electric one. Full-day rentals will be VND60,000 ($2.4) and VND120,000 ($4.8). Monthly and annual tickets will also be available for commuters, who can pay by bank transfer or e-wallet.

A green electric bicycle will be used in the bike-sharing project, which is expected to help people be more active in moving, providing opportunities for them to exercise and protect the environment. Photo: Pham Cong/ The Hanoi Times

The public bicycle share model will be implemented via an electronic application for people to search for locations of bike dockings, book the service, and make payments. Commuters can download and install the free TNGO app on their smartphone and make a deposit to rent a bike.

The Department of Transport said it will evaluate the plan after the 12-month trial period, adding that during that period, Hanoi-based technology company Tri Nam Group JSC, an investor in the project, will get permission to use sidewalks free of charge to install bike racks.

Tri Nam Company also proposed the municipal People's Committee set up electronic charging stations under this bike-sharing scheme.

In the second phase of the project (between 2023 and 2024), the service will be expanded to other districts, with around 3,000 bikes available at 350 bike racks, the department added.

In Vietnam, the public bicycle-sharing service has been piloted in Ho Chi Minh City, Quy Nhon City in the south-central province of Binh Dinh, Vung Tau City in the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau, and the northern province of Hai Duong.

The model, which helps diversify public means of transport, limit private vehicles, ease traffic congestion, reduce emissions and protect the environment, has been warmly welcomed by both locals and tourists.

Therefore, on March 22, the Hanoi People’s Committee assigned the Department of Transport to set up a project to develop public bicycle service in downtown areas after the model got positive feedback from passengers in Ho Chi Minh City.

“Hanoi is a big city with a dense population, especially in the inner city, with close-knit houses and narrow roads. Passengers of buses and trains will use sharing public bicycles to access the stations,” Urban Management expert Phan Truong Thanh told The Hanoi Times.

He noted that to expand public bicycle-sharing service quickly, Hanoi needs to inform residents about the service's benefits and convenience.