HCMC – The HCMC Transport Department and Tri Nam Group JSC jointly launched a pilot public bicycle project in downtown HCMC this morning, December 16.
The public bicycle service is being offered at 43 stations with 500 bicycles parked on the sidewalks in District 1 for 12 months. Tri Nam Group JSC, the project’s investor, will use its budget to invest in and operate the pilot project, reported the local media.
The stations were set up near bus stops and parks to serve the locals’ demand for short-distance travel.
To use the service, people need to download the TNGO app on the App Store or Google Play, register for an account using their mobile phone number and add money to the account via MoMo, Zalo Pay, or VTC Pay. They then need to scan a QR code attached to the bicycle to unlock the vehicle and start the ride.
During the pilot period, the prices are VND5,000 per 30 minutes. They can use the service for free for the first 15 minutes.
The launch of the public bicycle service operated by a private unit is expected to help local people and tourists have more travel options.
The project is also aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of bus services and other public means in the future, cutting down on the demand for private vehicles and reducing environmental pollution.
After one year of piloting the service, the city will consider expanding the service to other districts and urban areas, increasing the number of bicycles and setting up bicycle-only lanes to ensure safety, said Tran Quang Lam, director of the HCMC Transport Department.
