Wuhu will set up a U-bike leasing program in downtown Wuhu city in Anhui province beginning Oct 1. In total, 12,000 bikes will be available, with 8,000 bikes being put into use during the first phase.

The first phase of the Wuhu U-bike leasing program will allocate 500 parking lots in Jinghu district, Jiujiang district, Yijiang district, the Economic and Technological Development Zone and the Eastern New Zone. In addition 2,000 bikes will be available for parent-child riding.

Fang Ping, chief engineer of the Wuhua Committee of Construction, said that citizens may apply for a smart card with their identity card. The card requires a 300 yuan ($47.07) deposit, 50 yuan ($7.85) advance payment and 10 yuan ($1.57) card fee. Tourists may contact hotels for a bike, provide an ID card and pay a deposit of several hundred yuan.

Bikes are free of charge for the first hour, one yuan for two hours and two yuan per hour for the third and fourth hour. If time exceeds five hours, renters will be charged three yuan per hour. "In order to prevent citizens from forgetting to return bikes, we will make a remainder call or message for those above 10 hours," said Fang Ping.

(chinadaily.com.cn)