Public rental bicycles are energy-efficient, non-polluting, convenient, and environmentally friendly. Many places treat them as an extension and supplement to buses to address the "last mile" problem of public transportation. In contrast, Taiyuan, Shanxi, is committed to establishing public rental bicycles as an independent urban slow traffic system separate from the motorized public transport network, with the two systems being both complementary and independent. Can public rental bicycles handle the "pressure"? A reporter visited Taiyuan to investigate.
Quietly changing travel habits
20,000 bikes, with a single-day rental peak of up to 370,000 trips
Around 9 a.m. on August 10, at the public bicycle service station at the intersection of Taoyuan North Road and Shuixiguan Street in Yingze District, Taiyuan, Wang Shuying, who had just returned from the morning market with groceries, dismounted, locked her bike, and queued to return it. About five minutes later, three other citizens waiting to return their bikes swiped their cards one after another and left. “The roads in the city are under major repairs and are extremely congested. For commuting to work, going out shopping, I rely entirely on it!” Wang Shuying took the vegetables out of her basket and walked off cheerfully.
Since September 28 last year, public rental bicycles have become a common sight on the streets of Taiyuan—bright orange-red frames with lime-green "tail fins," sporting a vibrant and lively look. Thanks to the public rental bicycles, many people’s travel habits have quietly changed. Zhou Qi, the chairman of the city’s bus group, never imagined that riding a public rental bicycle could become a trend. It is estimated that Taiyuan’s public rental bicycles have attracted around 10% of private car owners.
In March 2012, the Taiyuan Municipal Party Committee and Government listed the public rental bicycle project as one of ten practical projects. The construction funds were fully invested by the government’s fiscal budget, and the bus group managed and built the system uniformly under the principle of prioritizing public welfare. Since its official launch, in less than a year, the 20,000 bikes have been used a total of 46.71 million times, equivalent to each of the city’s 4.25 million permanent residents having ridden at least 10 times.
“Hangzhou has over 60,000 public rental bicycles and more than 2,000 service stations, with an average daily turnover rate of about seven rides per bike and a peak daily rental volume of 360,000 trips. Taiyuan only has 20,000 bikes and 516 stations, but the average daily turnover rate is 11.7 rides per bike, peaking at 45 rides, with a single-day rental volume reaching up to 370,000 trips. Whether in terms of bike turnover rate or daily rental volume, Taiyuan leads the nation,” said Zhao Yongwang, manager of Taiyuan Public Bicycle Service Co., Ltd.
“Taiyuan’s roads are relatively flat, and the public has a habit of cycling,” Zhou Qi analyzed the reasons behind the bicycle’s popularity. Of course, the "trendiness" is also inseparable from Taiyuan’s unique positioning of public rental bicycles, its networked layout, and the supporting measures.
Building an Independent Slow-Traffic Public Transport System
Weaving a network of stations, unified rental and return, with a free rental rate exceeding 99%
How to establish an urban slow-traffic public transport system? Zhou Qi believes that unified rental and return is the prerequisite, and the system must form a network from the start. “Last year, we covered 62 square kilometers right from the beginning, setting up 498 stations within two months. Once the main urban area formed a network, the potential of public rental bicycles could be realized.”
According to preliminary surveys, commuting is the primary purpose for citizens choosing public rental bicycles, with an average travel distance not exceeding 3.5 kilometers. Taiyuan, in line with the requirements for a networked system, set up a service station every 450 meters near bus stops, commercial centers, hospitals, schools, and large residential communities.
Zhou Qi believes, “If it takes more than 700 meters to find a service station, people usually won’t choose public rental bicycles. The denser the stations, the better—but they must not affect the urban landscape. In Taiyuan, the density is continually increasing. Originally, a station had only 25 bike docks, but now some have 45 or even 80 docks.”
To ensure the bikes aren’t lost, Taiyuan uses information technology to implement a real-name registration system and unique bike identification. With a public transit IC card, citizens pay a 200-yuan deposit and preload at least 30 yuan for rental fees, allowing free use for the first 60 minutes; between 1 to 2 hours, the fee is 1 yuan; between 2 to 3 hours, 2 yuan; and for every hour beyond 3 hours, the charge is 3 yuan.
“The progressive pricing isn’t for revenue—it’s to encourage timely bike returns. Currently, the free rental rate exceeds 99%,” Zhou Qi said confidently. Based on current road conditions, the normal cycling speed is 7.5 km/h, which is double the surveyed average travel distance of 3.5 km, allowing ample time. Actual usage also shows that the average trip distance per hour is around 1.5 km.
“Public rental bicycles are a public resource. We must ensure limited bikes circulate efficiently. ‘Use when needed, return promptly’ prevents resource waste.”
Refined Management Resolves Tidal Flow Challenges
Dedicated staff for maintenance, overnight returns made easy, mobile app support
“How easy is it to rent and return bikes?” is a key factor in the success of public rental bicycles. Currently, during peak hours, Taiyuan’s public rental bicycles can meet about 70%–80% of rental demand. “Three parts construction, seven parts management,” Zhou Qi hopes refined management can satisfy 90% of users.
In the public bicycle service hotline control room, real-time footage from various stations alternates on large screens, clearly showing which stations have surplus bikes and which are running low. Shift leader Zhang Hong and her colleagues issue dispatch instructions based on the monitor feeds.
Zhang Hong said, “The morning rush starts at 7:30 a.m. Stations with full racks need to have bikes redistributed. After 11:30 a.m., the flow reverses as people ride back. During this period, the internal dispatch system continuously transports bikes to balance supply, averaging over 6,000 bikes moved up and down daily.”
In addition to coordinating dispatches, Taiyuan also operates a 24-hour service hotline to provide timely consultation and problem resolution for users.
According to Zhao Yongwang, the company has stationed personnel at 40 service points to manage bike loading and unloading, addressing issues like being unable to return or rent bikes during peak hours. Additionally, the company has designed an overnight return policy: if users can’t find an available dock after 11 p.m., they can register for overnight parking at the station and return the bike before 7 a.m. the next day without incurring charges.
On June 20, the company launched the “Longcheng Bicycle” mobile app. Through this software, users can check real-time information for each service station on their phones.
To ensure smooth operations, the company has assigned 60 staff specifically for maintenance, handling minor issues like tire repairs or replacing screws on-site, while larger problems are sent to maintenance facilities. Additionally, service stations are staffed with managers responsible for daily upkeep and emergency repairs.
Taiyuan’s public rental bicycles have become hugely popular, but more importantly, sustainable operations are achievable. Due to the short timeframe, exact operational costs are not yet available. However, the annual labor cost for 429 employees alone exceeds 20 million yuan. Moreover, as the bikes are still under warranty, most repairs are handled by suppliers. Over time, self-funded costs will inevitably rise. Drawing lessons from Hangzhou, Taiyuan is also exploring the feasibility of generating revenue through advertising to cover costs, but challenges such as insufficient ad income and excessive bike shelters affecting the cityscape remain unresolved. Coupled with the ongoing expansion phase, advertising initiatives are still in progress. How to achieve sustainable operations for public rental bicycles may be a key issue Taiyuan needs to address next.
Reporter’s Notes
Maintenance pressure may increase
Public rental bicycles have gradually gained popularity in Shanxi. Once, when I went to the provincial party committee for an interview, a director from the Agricultural Work Office asked me, "How did you get here?" "I came by bike." "I did too — it's convenient!" he said with a smile, giving off a strong sense of "like-mindedness."
Public rental bicycles are not only a strong supplement to rail transit, buses, and taxis, but also operate independently from them. While the development of public rental bicycles is going well, we should also recognize that greater future demand for cycling may be stimulated. If usage frequency becomes too high, combined with insufficient care and some acts of vandalism, maintenance pressure will increase sharply. In addition, how to achieve sustainable and healthy operations is also an issue that requires further consideration.