People in HCM City use the bicycle-sharing service (Photo: VNA)

The public bicycle rental service will be carried out in 12 months, with 43 stations and 500 bicycles on sidewalks in the central district.

The bicycles are expected to be rented out for 5,000 VND (0.22 USD) for 30 minutes and 10,000 VND per hour. Free renting for the first 15 minutes of use will be applied during the first stage of the project to encourage users.

The pilot programme aims to introduce a new mode of transport in the city centre, promote public transport, and reduce pollution.

If successful, the service may be expanded to HCM City’s other districts and Thu Thiem new urban area, said Director of the municipal Transport Department Tran Quang Lam.

The southern largest economic hub is planning to arrange cycle lanes on the city's roads to ensure safety, he added.

In its transport development plan to 2020 and beyond, HCM City is set to build eight mass rapid transit (MRT) routes, three tramways or monorails and six bus rapid transit (BRT) routes./.

Source: VNA

Saigonese keen to get hands on public bikes

People in Ho Chi Minh City are flocking to try out the city's new public bicycle rental program for free during its first few days of operation.