People in HCM City experience the public bicycle service. — VNA/VNS Photo Tiến Lực

HÀ NỘI —  Hà Nội's Department of Transport is planning to launch public bicycle services in five inner districts of Hà Nội, giving locals and tourists have more transport options

In the first phase of the project, 1,000 bicycles, including about 500 electric-bicycles, will be placed at 70-80 bike rental spots in the districts of Ba Đình, Tây Hồ, Đống Đa andThanh Xuân and near stations on the Cát Linh–Hà Đông metro line.

Following HCM City's model, the project is expected to roll out this year.

In the second phase, which will be run between 2023 and 2024, 3,000 more bicycles will be placed at 350 spots.

Trí Nam Group, the investor in the project, said the project is estimated to cost VNĐ26 billion (US$1.14 million).

The rental price for an electric bike is about VNĐ20,000 per hour, or VNĐ200,000 a day. The investor has not yet given the expected price for renting regular bicycles.

Trí Nam Group has proposed city authorities set up charging stations at bike rental spots to serve users better.

The investor has also deployed a public bicycle rental service in HCM City since last December. — VNS