Wuhu's Public Bicycle Daily Rentals Hit a New High

    Since the end of last year, Mr. Liu, who works at the Wuhu Power Generation Company in the northern part of the city, has stopped driving to work. Every morning, he picks up a bicycle from a public rental station near his residential community and cycles to the bus stop close to his office. After work, he rides back home from the bus stop. Over the past few months, that green public bicycle rental card has become an essential item Mr. Liu carries with him whenever he goes out. On weekends, he also takes his child out for a ride on a parent-child bicycle. Green cycling has become a travel method Mr. Liu is very fond of. In fact, since the trial operation of Wuhu’s public bicycle rental system began last September, more and more citizens like Mr. Liu have opted for this green mode of transportation. Especially during the current spring season when flowers are in full bloom, the daily rental volume of public bicycles has repeatedly hit new highs. According to feedback from the public transport group, over the past six months, five major achievements of the public bicycle rental system in Wuhu have become clearly evident.

Yesterday, reporters learned from the city’s public transport group that in the second half of last year, Wuhu initially planned to build 500 public bicycle rental stations in Jinghu District, Jiujiang District, Yijiang District, the Economic and Technological Development Zone, and Chengdong New Area, along with 15,600 parking poles and 12,000 bicycles (including 2,000 parent-child bikes). The system was put into trial operation on September 22 of last year. As of now, 365 stations and 12,000 bicycles have been put into operation, with a peak daily rental volume of nearly 30,000 times, a single-day maximum of 48 borrow-return cycles per parking pole, and nearly 37,000 cardholders. It is expected that all 500 operational stations will be in use by May, achieving basic full coverage across Wuhu’s urban area.

Reporters learned from the city’s public transport group that since the system was launched, it has been operating smoothly. Relevant departments have implemented a management model of “zonal management, scientific dispatching, timely maintenance, and strict assessment” to ensure the orderly and efficient operation of the public bicycle rental system. Zonal management involves dividing the operational stations across the city into four administrative responsibility zones, with one dispatch station set up in each zone. Each dispatch station is equipped with corresponding personnel, vehicles, and equipment to clean, dispatch, repair, and manage the stations and bicycles within its zone. Scientific dispatching refers to establishing a digital system for public bicycles, digitally managing bike rentals and returns between stations, optimizing vehicle distribution, and efficiently allocating resources in the shortest time and distance to fully meet citizens’ rental and return needs.

The public transport group has also assigned dedicated personnel to conduct inspections, promptly inflate the bicycles, and report issues such as locked abnormalities or damaged bikes, ensuring repairs are completed within one hour. By establishing a comprehensive “Operational Management Assessment Method,” a combined evaluation mechanism of owner-unit assessment and external supervision has been implemented. Citizen satisfaction is listed as a key assessment indicator, and the assessment results are directly linked to the operating company’s management funds, ensuring the system is well-managed and sustainable in the long term.

Reporters learned from the city’s public transport group that since the launch and operation of Wuhu’s public bicycle rental system, it has generated positive social impact, and five major achievements are now evident.

The public bicycle rental system has been integrated into the urban public transportation system, largely solving the “last mile” problem of bus travel. Due to limitations in the placement of bus stops and the further acceleration of urbanization, the “last mile” issue has long remained unresolved. Through the public welfare positioning of the public bicycle rental system and the use of technological means to enable 24-hour round-the-clock renting and returning, the system offers a convenient way to reach destinations through a “bicycle – bus – bicycle” approach for those situations where “the bus doesn’t go, taxis are not cost-effective, and walking is too far.” This achieves “seamless transfers” between public bicycles and other forms of public transport like buses and taxis. It is understood that currently, analysis of rental patterns shows that rental areas have shifted from primarily commercial districts during the initial construction phase to various parts of the urban area. Rental times have also increasingly concentrated during the morning and evening rush hours (accounting for about 50% of daily rentals), indicating that public bicycle usage has transitioned from leisure to regular commuting. More and more citizens are now choosing “public bicycles” as their preferred mode of transportation.

In addition, the operation of Wuhu’s public bicycle rental system promotes energy conservation and emission reduction by advocating green travel, thus advancing the development of a low-carbon urban economy. The implementation of this system aligns with Wuhu’s positioning as an ecological garden city. Integrated with attractions such as Binjiang Park, Xiyang Lake, Daqiao Center, Cultural Opera Park, Dayang Wetland Park, and Tuanjie Park, it truly enriches the city’s leisure atmosphere and tourism appeal. The bicycles feature unique designs in both shape and color, blending naturally into the urban landscape and enhancing the city’s aesthetic quality. More importantly, many citizens have experienced the joy of cycling, improving their health indicators and fostering a sense of environmental protection and green travel in their daily lives. The vibrant and dynamic urban cycling culture has significantly enhanced the city’s vibrancy.