REGIONAL> Society
Public bicycle service comes to Nanchang
By Guo Rui (China Daily Hubei Bureau)
Updated: 2009-08-11 18:40

The Honggutan Management Committee (MC) recently launched a new system for locals which will help them get around town and benefit the environment at the same time.

The "Public Bicycle Service System", operated by Wuhan company Xinfeida, will offer free bikes for rent in the Nanchang Honggutan new area.

From now on, people can borrow a bicycle at no charge with an "integrity card", which can be obtained after showing identification and 50 yuan as a guarantee.

"I like it, especially for sight-seeing," an unnamed businessman from Egypt in Nanchang said about the system.

In addition to providing a public bicycle service, the free rental points will also create employment and business opportunities. Owners of the rental sites can sell newspapers and other items, which have to be agreed on by the Honggutan MC.

"This is an environmental protection program [and] I wanted to participate," said Wang Yilang, a disabled citizen in Honggutan, who works at one of the sites.

Honggutan has built 25 public bicycle sites so far, and 1,300 people have applied for the "integrity card". Sixty more rental points are planned for completion before December this year.