Since the beginning of December, after handing over 43 parking spots in the city center, and preparing for the installation of signs, parking lines..., Tri Nam Group has launched a trial of this service and received much attention from Ho Chi Minh City residents.
Previously, the public bicycle system was planned to be deployed from April, but was postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Tri Nam Group has run the bikes on a trial basis at Le Loi station in the first period, and is expected to deploy them at the remaining 42 stations by December 15. The system is expected to operate for a year, after which the Group and the City Management Board will review the acceptance results to decide whether to continue maintaining it or not.
The vehicles were inspected, maintained, had SIM cards installed, and had an integrated locking system synchronized with the automatic management machine installed by company staff before being put into testing.
Each station will be arranged with 10 to 20 bicycles. The bicycle system used is the type with smart locks, has GPS positioning feature, can be locked or unlocked by 2G, 3G, 4G network connection or Bluetooth on mobile.
To use this service, people will download and install the Mobike application for free on their smartphones, from which they can scan around to find the nearest available bike station. To prevent theft, each bike is equipped with a monitoring ID device, and users are required to provide full personal information. After completing the trip, users park the bike in the right place and lock it as before.
Users can book a car in advance via the mobile app, website and scan the QR code or use a magnetic card to unlock the car at the station.
Right from the first days of testing, the public bicycle model has attracted the attention of hundreds of people in the city, many young people, children, and even the elderly are excited to participate in the experience. Some opinions suggest that public bicycle services should be connected to tourist destinations to serve the travel needs of visitors.
Most of them support the expansion of this type of service in the city, they think that this is a measure to protect the environment, save travel costs and is completely suitable for Ho Chi Minh City in the period after social distancing, when people have a high demand for cycling to exercise as well as more convenient in traveling between bus stations.
Many people had their first experience getting around the city center by public bicycle.
Although designed to be quite heavy, the bike is considered to run relatively smoothly, feeling light and sturdy. The use of non-inflated tires, unlike conventional bicycles, not only does not make them feel heavy, but can also absorb shock and prevent nails on the road. The frame is also designed to be rust-proof, so it is not easily damaged whether it is raining or sunny.
Car rental prices are calculated by time, initially 5,000 VND for 30 minutes, 10,000 VND for an hour and the company is currently continuing to research to diversify ticket types. In the initial phase, the system will also offer free rides for the first 15 minutes of the ride for passengers.
