C'entro in bici - Bike sharing in many italian cities
2006-07-14
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- Best Practice
- Topics
- Mobility
- Short description
- This project, patented and set up by a company in Ferrara, puts a fleet of public bicycles at the disposal of citizens and/or tourists. These bikes are available from racks placed in several key points of the city (e.g. train and /or bus stations: in Ravenna there are a total of 45 bike racks, of which 35 for residents (yellow bikes) and 10 for tourists (red bikes). The bikes are attached to the racks by means of a bike locker which can be opened with a numbered key and which remains locked to the rack for the whole time the bike is being used. The bike must be returned to the same rack from which it was taken by 11:00 pm every day. The keys are given to the citizens to keep for good and to tourists for the duration of their stay.
- Project executive
- The system is designed and patented by a private company (Mr. Fulvio Tura), and is implemented in many Italian cities. The first and most important application is in the Ferrara Municipality.
- Participants
- The project has been under the supervision of the Municipality of Ravenna since 2002, but was originally set up in 2000 by a cooperative of shopkeepers situated in the historical city centre and backed by a host of both public and private bodies (category associations, chambers of commerce, etc.). Shopkeepers and tourist agents work actively together towards promoting the project (through, for example, the distribution of the keys reserved to tourists directly at hotels).
- Objectives
- The main objective of this project is to put a non polluting means of transport at the disposal of citizens, commuters (who can thus take public transport to urban areas and then continue towards the centre by bike) and tourists, therefore reducing the number of cars circulating in historical centres.
- Activities
- The supplier (the Fulvio Tura company) provides the racks, bikes and keys and is in charge of installing the entire equipment round the city; while the running of the project now falls under the supervision of the Municipality of Ravenna, who carries out the following activities: 1) ensures daily that the bikes are at the racks and are in good condition and working order; 2) ordinary and extraordinary maintenance; 3) promotes the project through different communication methods.
- Process
- In general terms, the project is divided into the following phases: 1) feasibility study: analysis of demand, checking number of bikes required and installation of bike racks; 2) Definition of the service supply conditions; 3) Purchasing and installing bike racks and bikes; 4) Promoting and communicating the project to the public; 5) Routine organisation: checking and servicing the bikes
- Results
- In three years 4000 keys have been distributed to people residing and domiciled in the Municipality of Ravenna area, covered by a supply 140 bikes for residents (40 more are available for tourists). Having bikes in the car parks outside the city centre gives commuters the possibility of parking their cars and cycling into town (park & bike). In some car parks, the demand for bikes has begun to exceed the offer; therefore the number of bicycles at the citizens’ disposal is expected to increase. The reason behind the success of this project lies in the fact that it is free of charge, that the bikes are easily accessible and that it is widespread, 35 bike racks being scattered throughout the city.
- Evaluation
- Although the project was not assessed (nor is it likely to be assessed) quantitatively using consolidated standard methodologies, a series of empirical and qualitative evaluations have in fact been carried out. These have not only shown that the users are satisfied with the service provided, but they have also helped identify the project’s weak points and therefore the actions to be taken to improve the service. These mainly have to do with the upkeep of the bikes and enlarging the fleet at the citizens’ disposal.
- Difficulties
- The main problems encountered during the first years are connected with the upkeep of the bikes. In order to solve this problem, we are seeking a third party partner to whom entrust the upkeep on a continuous basis and at city level.
- Budget
- 55,000 (Euro)
- Financial backer
- The costs sustained in 2002 by the Municipality of Ravenna in order to purchase the project set up in 2000 amounted to about 55,000 Euro (for 180 bikes, 15 racks, 3,000 keys). The estimated yearly management costs include the upkeep of the bikes and inspection (the latter is currently being carried out by those pensioners taking part in the programme of socially useful jobs). The cost for the supply and installation of the system is currently equal to 700 Euro / bike (naturally with racks and keys included).