[sustran] fwd: Singapore bicycle loan scheme

[SUSTRAN Resource Centre]

The Star
Monday, January 24, 2000
                  
Dateline: Lion City 

Novel bike scheme gets going

A SCHEME to allow residents of a Housing Board Estate to use bicycles
around their neighbourhood for up to two hours for free was launched on
Saturday. 

Called the SmartBike Scheme, it was started by advertising company Capital
City Posters and the Bukit Batok Community Club at a cost of S$1mil
(RM2.2mil). 

A total of 100 bikes at 10 docking stations are available to residents. 

To take part, a resident simply applies for a smart card at the community
club, paying a S$10 (about RM22) registration fee. 

With the smart card he can release a bicycle. When he is done with the
bike, he goes to the nearest docking station and parks it there, locking it
into place with the same smart card. 

In Bukit Batok alone the scheme is expected to have about 2,000 members. 

Peter Kemeny, the managing director of Capital City Posters, said that the
scheme helps residents who need a quick and convenient form of transport. 

He said his company benefits, too, from selling the advertising panels at
the docking stations. 

The smart-card technology used for the scheme runs on the GSM communication
network, which is used to track bicycle movements. The network is provided
by SingTel Mobile. 

It helps monitor usage and traffic flow of the bicycles. 

A signal will also be transmitted if a bicycle is not returned after two
hours. 

The scheme was first implemented in Rennes, France, in May 1998 by Capital
City Posters' partner, the Adshel Group. 

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