Bicing

Bicing is a bike rental system in Barcelona for automated bicycles for hire for short distances by means of an extensive network of bicycle stations. It is part of the offer of the local municipal enterprise B: SM (Barcelona Serveis Municipals ) and the operation of this supplement to public transport has been awarded for 10 years to the American company for outdoor advertising " Clear Channel ", with the possibility of extension to 15 years.

The offer was inaugurated after a careful study of the Lyon prototype Vélo'v on 22 March 2007 and has end of June 2008 approximately 384 distributed on the surface of the center Fahrradmietstationen that provides hold approximately 5500 bicycles. End of February 2009, the system has 186 944 registered users. Since 2009, the annual use rate rose to 30 euros.

Bicing is a word that derives from the Catalan nickname bici ( for cycling ) and BCN, the short form of Barcelona. The English suffix- ing alludes to the Spanish anglicism "vending " for sale in vending machines, but also to other forms of locomotion such as jogging (Spanish for jogging ) or Vueling ( a Catalan budget airline ).

Operation

The offer is to be served and internet queried mainly supported. Interested persons may register through the website of Bicing or directly in the client's office of Bicing. In the application for which you need a credit card, an ID number and a Spanish address, an account will be set up, on which the customer can then access the Internet and can see his chargeable uses. A few days after signing up you get sent by mail a station overview, a quick start guide as well as its user map. After activation, this person-related user card on the company's website you can see and use bicycles from the stations.

For tourists only other private providers offer, as originally planned weekly menu was abandoned due to legal resistances of the Association of bike rental.

Bicing works with the help of automated bicycle stations, which are distributed in the city center at a distance of 300 to 400 m, often at the stops of the Metro. Each station has 15-30 lockable parking for the bikes and information technology is connected in real time to the central computer. Each pitch has two holes into which the bolts of the bicycle frame are introduced. For the removal of a bicycle, the user must only his customer card contactless (RFID ) technology to the "Service Acces Terminal" hold and gets the display shows the pitch number displayed, from which he "his" refer bicycle. While he goes to the parking space, opens the electromechanical closing device and it flashes the green light this parking space to signal the possibility of removal.

To remove the bike from the parking lot, it just has to be lifted up on the handlebars. Arriving at the nearest station from the destination bicycle, the bicycle is simply lifted into a signaled by a green lamp free parking and sunk the bolts on the rack in the openings. Then closes the castle and at the end of a red lamp signaled the successful return and thus the end of one's own responsibility. Free parking with red lamp may not be used for the return to prevent subsequent theft by unauthorized persons on behalf of the user.

If all parking spaces are occupied a bike station and the user therefore can not return his bike, he can look at the number and the location of the five nearest bike stations with free parking, on a display at the station.

The system is designed for the self-employed that is user-controlled distribution of the bicycles. In addition, there in June 2008 21 diesel-powered vans with trailers that distribute bicycles evenly among the stations. The number of available bikes on the plots of the bicycle station before you can always see in real time via the Internet, thereby indicating how many parking spaces are empty and occupied.

The stations are open Saturday and Sunday around the clock, from Monday to Friday are 2-5 clock cycle for the extraction closed while the return of free parking spaces is always possible.

Rates and Financing

The first 30 minutes after removal from the station will be charged. The number of surrenders and withdrawals of bikes at the stations is not limited. However, need to be maintained between return and removed again at least ten minutes. After the first 30 minutes, 50 cents will be charged up to a total time of two hours of collection for each additional half hour. Originally a rate of 1 Euro per hour had been planned, which was then reduced but still before the inauguration. After the two hours a penalty of three euros per hour or part thereof must be paid. After three calculation of the penalty, the membership will be canceled automatically. Failure to return the bicycle within 24 hours 150 euros must be paid. All fees will be automatically withdrawn from the credit or debit card that you provided when applying for the membership of the customer.

Unlike many free bicycle lending in other cities Bicing is not paid from the advertising revenue of the outdoor advertising posters and on the vehicles themselves ( over-sized fenders ), but 2/3 from the surplus of the municipal parking management program "Area Verde " ( the area of ​​green rimmed chargeable car parking ) and funded one-third by the users, especially from their annual contribution. According to Bicing end 91 percent of all trips are less than 30 minutes and therefore free to the user. The city government wanted to pay for investment and operation of the system with about 100 stations over the next ten years 22.3 million euros. After the system is expanded to almost the entire city of Barcelona with 6000 wheels and about 400 stations are the costs paid by the City to the operator, increased annually to 5.5 million euros.

Used bicycle technology

The bike is different from other commercially available models significantly in its design to prevent the theft and the subsequent sale in the black market. The design of the bike is similar to that of other automated bicycle rental stations, which operates the company Clear Channel, among others, in Rennes, Trondheim and Oslo. The bike is designed to go through its aluminum frame and steel rims for durability because it is exposed around the clock to the weather. The bike weighs 16.8 kg and has a kickstand. It has a red frame color with white fenders and a height-adjustable with quick release saddle. The rear wheel is the size of a mountain bike (26 ") and the front wheel is slightly smaller, comparable to that of folding bikes. Both wheels wide tires and front a yellow or white headlight and a flashing red taillight, turn on automatically when driving in darkness. The lighting battery is charged at the station. the bicycle has an internal 3-speed type Shimano Nexus with integrated drum brake. the front brake is a standard V- brake. the handlebar has a particular shape and has an integrated luggage carrier with a flexible fastening strap, a bell and a turning handle. Each bicycle has a number and is recognized by the host when it is returned to a station. in this way, the use of time is recorded ( for billing ) and maintenance cycles. the bike has no mobile lock and can therefore only be parked safely at the stations.

Grid expansion and users' numbers

The registration of the members for the service started on 16 March 2007. On 22 March 2007 by 14 clock the offer with already 350 registered users was inaugurated. Its expansion has taken place in three stages:

• March 22 to May 1; 14 stations available around the Ciutadella Park with 200 public bicycles
• 1 May to 1 July 50 stations available with 750 public bicycles in the right Eixample (New Town) and in part of the old town.
• Since the beginning of July 2007: 100 stations available with 1500 public bicycles throughout the Eixample (New Town), in the old town and at some points in Gràcia and Sant Martí.

This plan was adhered on the whole, with some stations, others were previously opened on the other hand later. At the 200 then distributed over the whole city stations, there should be 2007, about 3,000 bikes by the end of the year. By March 2009, an expansion of capacity on 6000 bikes and 400 stations was performed. In July 2008, the system was available to 75 percent of the urban area of Barcelona. The cycle network has been extended 128 km to over 156.

The original ratio of parking spaces at stations to bicycles should rise from 1.6 to 2, in order to reduce the travel expenses of Redistributionsfahrzeugen while preventing overcrowded stations.

The city council went from 15,000 users by the end of the year, but this number was greatly exceeded. In the first month, 5,000 users signed up, in the second month, there were already more than 25,000 and the end of June 2008 there were already 150,000 registered users. Business owners and landlords advertise with the small distance to the nearest Bicing station in their ads. In the metro stations for instructions, which perform outputs to the Bicing stations.

In 2009, a further expansion of the system was scheduled outside the city limits of Barcelona. It should almost the entire stretch of coast between Castelldefels in the southwest and Montgat be covered in the northeast with another 3520 wheels on 440 stations. This system should be partially (60 percent) financed by advertising. However, the end of 2011 were no such stations are found on the bicing site.

Usage statistics

The users are equally men and women. 48 percent are older than 35 years, 42 percent are between 25 and 34 years and 10 percent are younger than 25 years. 70 percent of the trips end in 15 minutes and 91 percent within the free half hour. A public bicycle is used in Barcelona average daily during 5 hours for 16 runs, compared to 3 rides that are on average come with a private bike. The busiest stations were within the first three months Plaça Universitat, Tetuan i Catalunya, Arc de Triomf, Paseo Maritimo, Avinguda Icaria Joan de Borbó. 80 of the former about 1600 wheels were repaired daily.

Almost ten percent of all journeys by Bicing substitute the use of motorized transport, such as car (3.3 percent ) or motorcycle (6.3 percent). In 26 percent of cases, these paths were covered earlier on foot. About 51 percent of the trips were formerly covered in public transport (metro, bus).

About 70 percent of users use only the public bicycle for a walk. Of the remaining 30 percent of intermodal users combined, the majority of the public transport, while a smaller proportion ( four per cent) also uses the car or your own two feet (eight per cent ) for the remaining part of the path.

The main use of reason is speed of advance: 30 percent say that as a reason. See 27 percent in the use of Bicing an opportunity for physical activity, 23 percent find it more convenient and easy for 22 per cent is the ecological and sustainable mobility in the foreground of use. For 17 percent of users, it is simply more cost effective than other modes of transportation, twelve percent see it to move in the city and another twelve percent Bicing find more pleasant than the conventional public transport a practical option. (Multiple answers were possible)

Problems

The Bicycle Rental accusing the city council of Barcelona to make them illegal competition. Indicate that a company would have lost up to 80 percent of its local customers and do not rule out bringing the case to court if the city administration, the duration of use of bicycles is not limited to one hour.

Bicing received an unexpectedly high number of applications for membership. At the beginning of the postal receipt of the user's card was provided within three working days later you needed ten working days and in some cases even more than 50 days.

It happens quite often that the stations have computer problems, and therefore are not to permit withdrawal or the safe return.

During the late morning hours, all spaces of the stations near the sea are fully occupied, while standing at the higher stations not a single bike longer available. During the late afternoon and evening hours, the situation is exactly reversed. This problem has been not yet been solved with the bicycle transport vehicles / vehicles bicycle redistribution, which is why we have decided to keep ready personnel who are entitled to receive surplus bikes and bicycles collects until they can be distributed. In some stations in multiples of bikes to come in comparison to the number of slot capacity.

In the first two months about 10 Bicing bikes are gone. After that, no more numbers have been published.

The required in the tender Availability 24 hours was reduced for cost reasons, after the award of the license, so on weekdays a five-hour Mietpause is prescribed.

The prescribed active night lighting of bicycles in 2007 worked only about three percent of the wheels completely, since the first time batteries are used to the smart bikes, which are charged to the Fahrradmietstationen. However, these batteries provide an insufficient number of loading and unloading cycles before needing to be replaced. To remedy this deficiency, 2008, an upgrade to the hub dynamo, as they are in other locations successfully used in smart bikes. The reflectors in the tire have been improved.

The sale of bicycles has declined in the first year of the " Bicing " according to the Association of bicycle dealer for city bikes by 10 to 15 percent, in 2008 as much as 20 percent. But that was responsible, the new, restrictive bicycle use statutes in Barcelona.