"Using public bicycles is really convenient. It’s good exercise and eco-friendly," citizen Yu Wenhui happily told reporters. Recently, members of the Tianshan Environmental Protection Tour by the Standing Committee of the Autonomous Region People's Congress noticed a row of bright yellow bicycles placed along the roadside at Century Square in downtown Aksu, available for public use.
"There’s a public bicycle service point at the southwest corner of Century Square, and there’s another near my home by Golden Coast. I rent public bikes for my daily commute. It’s especially convenient—saves time, is good exercise, and is low-carbon," said Yu Wenhui.
It is understood that Aksu's public bicycle transportation system refers to a network of public bicycle service stations set up in urban public areas according to a unified government plan. Citizens can borrow and return bicycles at any service point at any time. Also called "free bikes," the project draws on the advanced experience of first-tier domestic cities such as Hangzhou, Shanghai, and Beijing. The first phase of the project includes one public bicycle management service center, 26 bicycle service stations, and the deployment of 1,000 public bicycles, including 30 police bicycles and 30 tandem sightseeing bikes.
Currently, the system’s 26 stations are operating smoothly, with the average daily number of bike borrowings and returns exceeding 1,000, and total borrowings and returns surpassing 20,000. This has effectively alleviated the traffic pressure caused by the rapid increase in motor vehicles in Aksu, providing citizens with a convenient and efficient means of short-distance travel. Aksu is the first city in Xinjiang and the second in Northwest China to have a public bicycle transportation system.
According to reports, to increase the usage rate of public bicycles, users can ride for free for life. It is encouraged to develop good habits of borrowing and returning bikes promptly after use. The system adopts the commonly used time-based charging method in China: if a user does not return the bike at any station within 60 minutes, the system will automatically accumulate the time and charge an occupancy fee for using public resources (as long as the bike is returned to a docking station every 60 minutes, one can ride for free from morning till night). After one hour, the standard domestic charging method applies: 1 yuan for 61–120 minutes, 4 yuan for 120–180 minutes, 3 yuan per hour for over 180 minutes, with a daily maximum of 20 yuan. If there is no theft, loss, or damage to the public bicycle, the deposit and any remaining balance will be fully refunded upon card cancellation.
At Phoenix Square, Chen Qiang, manager of the Aksu Public Bicycle Transportation Service Development Company, said that public bicycles are healthy, economical, and environmentally friendly. They are an important measure by the government in response to the national "12th Five-Year Plan for Energy Conservation and Emission Reduction Public Action Plan," promoting the "135" travel approach (i.e., walking for distances under 1 km, cycling for under 3 km, and taking public transport for under 5 km). Aksu is applying for recognition as a National Civilized City, making the establishment of a public bicycle rental system even more urgent. Its successful implementation will surely become a symbol of urban civilization and an important aspect of quality life for Aksu residents.
Residents of the eight counties and one city in the Aksu region, as well as those of the First Agricultural Division (regiment farms), and out-of-town tourists can apply for a green travel public bicycle card with valid personal identification or a property deed (proving a fixed residence). The card application follows a real-name system.