Qingdao is expected to launch a public bicycle program with plans to deploy 5,000 bikes.

    The public bicycle rental system, which has been successfully implemented in cities such as Wuhan and Guangzhou, is also expected to be introduced in Qingdao. Reporters learned on the 16th from the Jiaoyun Group that the group plans to fully participate in the construction of a public bicycle rental system. Initially, it plans to use pilot areas including the Blue Silicon Valley, the Sino-German Eco-Park and Expo Park, as well as coastal tourist attractions, to build 400 public bicycle rental stations equipped with 5,000 bicycles. The project has only undergone preliminary feasibility studies and has not yet been officially approved.

　　According to Liu Yongkang, Chairman of the Jiaoyun Group, based on successful operating models from cities like Wuhan and Hangzhou, the group intends to participate in the planning and construction of Qingdao’s public bicycle rental system. According to the plan, Qingdao’s public bicycle rental system is expected to have a total investment of 500 million yuan, with the construction of 2,500 rental stations and the deployment of 50,000 public bicycles. In the initial phase, the plan is to use pilot areas including the Blue Silicon Valley, the Sino-German Eco-Park and Expo Park, as well as coastal tourist attractions, to establish 400 public bicycle rental stations and provide 5,000 bicycles. "If the project progresses smoothly, the pilot areas are expected to offer publicly rentable bicycles to citizens within the year," Liu Yongkang said.

　　Based on preliminary research and feasibility studies, the Jiaoyun Group has also conducted initial investment estimates. For the planned initial construction of 400 public bicycle rental stations and 5,000 bicycles, the first-phase investment will exceed 100 million yuan. According to the operational models of other cities in China, the public bicycle rental system will adopt a card-based rental method. Based on Qingdao’s resident population size, population density, and the number of tourists, the estimated number of issued cards is around 300,000 to 500,000.

　　Liu Yongkang explained that by enabling tourists to ride public bicycles, their stay in Qingdao can be extended, allowing them to deeply experience the city’s historical culture and seaside scenery, thereby boosting Qingdao’s tourism economy. The public bicycle rental system can be organically integrated with the city's already launched green and environmentally friendly urban sightseeing bus lines — the Blue Imagination Line and the Red Night View Line — addressing the "last mile" issue in tourism and becoming a "city calling card" for Qingdao tourism. At the same time, the constructed public bicycle shelters will also become beautiful scenic spots along Qingdao’s waterfront, providing comprehensive services such as tourism consultation, hotel booking, ticketing, and bus information inquiries for visitors.

　　Preliminary estimates suggest that if Qingdao has 50,000 public bicycles, it could save 12,070 tons of standard coal per year, reduce fuel costs by 73.5 million yuan, and cut carbon emissions by 26,000 tons.

　　In 2011, the former Jiaonan City built a approximately 13-kilometer-long dedicated recreational bicycle path along the greenbelt on the coastal side of Binhai Avenue, making it Qingdao’s first and longest dedicated bicycle path. In 2012, Laoshan District constructed a 6-kilometer-long bicycle path on both sides of Haier Road. In 2013, Laoshan District added another 4-kilometer-long bicycle lane, 1.5 meters wide, along the Binhai Avenue expansion project. In addition, projects such as the Dagusha Dike top road and the Zhangcun River channel treatment also proposed plans to build bicycle lanes.

　　Reporters recently found that currently constructed bicycle lanes are mostly located outside urban areas, far from city centers, resulting in less-than-ideal utilization rates. Some citizens believe this is due to the current lack of a cohesive bicycle lane system in Qingdao, and that utilization will improve as more lanes are built. However, others argue that the difficulty in popularizing bicycles in Qingdao is largely related to inadequate supporting facilities, aside from the city’s hilly terrain.

　　Qingdao has now been listed by the Ministry of Transport as one of the second batch of national pilot cities for low-carbon transportation system construction. The development of a public bicycle rental system will help accelerate the achievement of transportation energy-saving and emission-reduction goals. Once the public bicycle rental system is completed, the city will form a green and low-carbon travel model of "public bicycles + buses," increasing the share of public transit usage, promoting resource conservation and environmental protection, and continuously improving quality of life and the city’s image. It will not only effectively alleviate a series of urban development issues such as traffic congestion, insufficient parking, and environmental pollution, but also solve the "last mile" problem of public transit, creating a seamless and zero-transfer travel environment.

　　In fact, the public bicycle rental system is just one of the city’s efforts to develop low-carbon transportation. Reporters learned that in February last year, Qingdao was listed by the Ministry of Transport as one of the second batch of national pilot cities for low-carbon transportation system construction. Subsequently, Qingdao established a municipal working group for the low-carbon transportation system construction pilot and completed the "Qingdao Low-Carbon Transportation System Construction Urban Pilot Implementation Plan."

　　At the end of 2012, the aforementioned plan was officially approved by the Ministry of Transport, marking the official start of the implementation phase of the Qingdao pilot project. According to the implementation plan, Qingdao will focus on advancing 33 pilot projects in the field of low-carbon transportation system construction, covering urban public transport, ports and shipping, road transport, expressways, airports, and transportation informatization. The planned total investment for these pilot projects is over 18.6 billion yuan, with key emphases on urban public transport, port equipment, road network optimization, and intelligent transportation.