Yesterday morning, at the event ceremony held on the viewing platform of Dameisha Seaside Boardwalk to celebrate “Saltwater Public Bicycle Rentals Surpassing 10 Million Rides,” Guo Yonghang, Secretary of the Saltwater District Committee, awarded a brand-new bicycle to a girl named Deng Mengni to promote the concept of “green transportation and low-carbon travel.”
Deng Mengni is an employee of a jewelry company in Saltwater and the 10 millionth Saltwater resident to rent a public bicycle since the system’s trial operation 10 months ago. According to the second-phase plan, Saltwater will add another 1,000 public bicycles.
A bike card can be obtained with just an ID card
In July 2011, Shenzhen was listed as a candidate city for the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development’s “National Demonstration Project for Pedestrian and Bicycle Traffic Systems.” The city also proposed to promote the construction of slow leisure corridors, aiming to establish over 500 kilometers of dedicated bicycle lanes by 2015 to effectively address the “last mile” or “final stretch” of short-distance travel. The Saltwater Public Bicycle Transportation System is a livelihood project initiated by the Saltwater District in 2011. The first phase has established 145 self-service bicycle rental stations, 6,500 lock posts, and 5,000 public bicycles. Within the built-up area, service stations are available within a 300–500 meter radius from any point, achieving nearly full coverage of bicycle rental services. Any healthy individual aged 16 to 70, regardless of household registration, can apply for a cycling card with a second-generation ID card in Saltwater. The system has also been integrated with “Shenzhen Tong.”
Over 46,000 cycling cards issued
Saltwater District is the first administrative region in Shenzhen to achieve full connectivity of public bicycle lanes throughout the district. Since the trial operation of the Saltwater Public Bicycle Transportation System on December 28, 2011, over 46,000 cycling cards have been issued, and public bicycle rentals have surpassed 10 million. The average daily usage frequency per bicycle reaches 10 to 13 times, far exceeding the typical 3 to 5 times seen in other domestic cities. Currently, 8 customer service outlets have been established across the district, with 80 dedicated management, dispatch, and operational staff, as well as 10 vehicles for inspection, maintenance, and dispatch. The daily operation and management of the Saltwater Public Bicycle System are outsourced to professional operators under a market-oriented model, providing services such as card issuance, replacement, refunds, top-ups, and consultations. Additionally, Saltwater has launched a 400 hotline for the public bicycle transportation system, offering 24-hour customer support.
Over 60% prefer bicycles as their first choice
This month, the Saltwater District commissioned Guangzhou Zero Point Market Research Company to conduct a special survey on “Resident Satisfaction with the Saltwater Public Bicycle System.” The survey collected 1,393 valid samples, evenly distributed across the district’s four subdistricts. The results showed that 64.8% of residents now choose public bicycles as their primary mode of transportation, with 71.4% riding at least five times a week on average. Over half of the residents also use public bicycles for shopping and leisure. When commuting distances are short and the ride takes less than 20 minutes, residents are also likely to opt for public bicycles. The popularity of public bicycles among Saltwater residents is high. The survey also found that overall satisfaction with the public bicycle system reached 8.24 out of 10.
Equivalent to adding 10 million square meters of green space
According to officials, the Saltwater Public Bicycle System averages over 50,000 rides per day, with nearly 20,000 daily users. Based on current usage, an estimated 50,000 bus or shuttle rides are avoided daily within the district. Assuming each bicycle trip saves one yuan in transportation costs, residents save 1.5 million yuan per month and 18 million yuan annually. Furthermore, cycling reduces energy consumption, noise, and pollution. Calculations show that driving 10 kilometers emits approximately 2.73 kilograms of carbon. With 45,000 people switching from cars or buses to free bicycles daily, the public bicycle system has reduced carbon emissions by 136,500 kilograms per day, or 49.82 million kilograms per year—equivalent to adding 11.67 million square meters of green space.
Second phase adds 1,000 more bicycles
Also present at yesterday’s ceremony were over 100 attendees, including Du Ling, District Chief of Saltwater. According to Du Ling, the first phase of the Saltwater Public Bicycle Rental System has performed exceptionally well. Moving forward, the district will actively advance the second phase of the project, which plans to add 32 new self-service rental stations, 2,000 lock posts, and 1,000 additional public bicycles to provide more convenient, comprehensive, and high-quality services for residents. Du Ling also stated that the Saltwater Public Bicycle System aims to become a shining emblem of the district’s “National Ecological Zone” and a highlight project in establishing a “Low-Carbon Ecological Demonstration Area.”