News
2009-03-04
(CNA) Kaohsiung City launched a self-service bicycle rental system Sunday, with 1,500 bikes available for rent at 20 transit points around the southern port city.
Touting the system's convenience, Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) Minister Steven Shen and Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chu both hoped that it will not only help reduce carbon dioxide emissions but also promote exercise.
The system has been constructed on a build- operate-transfer (BOT) basis at a cost of NT$90 million (US$2.58 million). Some NT$15 million was put up by both the EPA's air pollution control fund and the city government, and another NT$60 million came from the central government's economic stimulus package.
Tung Li Development Co. has been commissioned by the government to operate the system over the next five years.
According to the company, the service will be accessible to members who pay a lump-sum fee in advance and use their membership cards to rent bikes, while non-members will be able to use their credit cards to pay for the use of a bike at any rental site.
For members, renting a bike will be free for the first 30 minutes. They will be charged NT$10 for each subsequent 30 minutes, with a maximum of NT$230 to be charged for 12 hours or more, the company said.
For non-members, renting a bike costs NT$30 for the first 30 minutes and NT$15 for each subsequent 30 minutes, with the maximum of NT$375 to be charged for 12 hours or more.
The unmanned rental service will be expanded to 50 rental sites, offering 4,500 bicycles for rent, along the city's Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) routes by the end of May, according to the company.
Users of the system will be allowed to rent a bicycle at a certain rental point and return the bike to any other rental outlet, the company noted.
At present, except for the rental center at the True Love Pier, none of the 20 that became operational Sunday is manned, according to the company.
All 20 rental spots are located near metro stations or scenic areas, including City Hall, Fisherman's Wharf, the Kaohsiung Cultural Center, Central Park and the Kaohsiung MRT's Sizihwan station, to allow easy access, the company added.
(By Y.L. Kao)
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