The Hanoi Department of Transport plans to provide 600 public bicycles for sharing, half of which will run on electricity, in six inner-city districts starting in September.

Under the plan, people in Hanoi will be able to use the public bike-sharing service at a cost of VND5,000-10,000 (US$0.21-0.42) for a 30-minute ride, according to Do Ba Dan, Chairman of Tri Nam Group JSC, the project's investor.

Dan said that in the first phase of the project, 1,000 bicycles, including 500 electric, will be imported and placed at about 80 docks in the central districts of Ba Dinh, Tay Ho, Hoan Kiem, Dong Da, Hai Ba Trung, Thanh Xuan, and at stations on the Cat Linh-Ha Dong metro line.

About 500 bicycles and 100 electric bikes are en route to Vietnam and are expected to arrive in Hanoi on July 20.

"The service will be launched on September 2, Vietnam's National Day, and the infrastructure for the service has been completed in the six central districts. The project is estimated to cost VND26 billion ($1.14 million), and we plan to provide 400 more electric bikes in the next few months," Dan said.

An electric bike from the bike-sharing project is designed to help people exercise. Photo: Pham Cong/The Hanoi Times

He added that in the second phase of the project (expected from 2024), the service would be expanded to other districts, with around 3,000 bikes available at 350 bike racks located near transportation hubs, schools, tourist attractions, and other public areas, making it convenient for residents and tourists to use. Commuters can download and install the free TNGO app on their smartphones and make a deposit to rent a bike.

Full-day rentals will cost VND60,000 ($2.4) and VND120,000 ($4.8). Monthly and annual passes will also be available for commuters, who can pay by bank transfer or e-wallet.

Tri Nam JSC has also been operating the public bicycle service in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam's southern metropolis, since December 2021.

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

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

In March 2022, the Hanoi People's Committee instructed the Department of Transport to launch a project to develop public bicycle services in downtown areas after the model received positive feedback from users in Ho Chi Minh City.