As part of his working visit to Asia, Mr Laurent Mercat, who is the founder and CEO of Smoove, recently met with the Vice Chairman of the Da Nang People’s Committee, Mr Nguyen Ngoc Tuan.  Smoove is France’s leading company in the design, manufacture, and sale of bike share equipment for municipalities, transit agencies, businesses, and property owners.

Mr Mercat briefed his host on his company-operated public bike-share programmes as well as its supplies of related proprietary technologies.  He also remarked that Smoove bikes are used exclusively for bike-share services.  Smoove’s products feature high endurance, and they can be used with high frequency regardless of any harsh weather conditions.  In addition, Smoove has developed the Fork Lock system which secures bikes in docks using dual locking pins, as well as provides an internal cable lock for securing the bike when out riding and away from the docks.  This secure locking solution has helped to reduce bike thefts as well as deter vandalism in and out of the bike-stations. 

A bike-share system in Batumi City, Georgia

The visiting guest also affirmed that bike-share is viewed as a form of transit to increase connectivity by the use of means of public transportation as well as to satisfy the increasing demand for short distance travel amongst visitors to a city.  Moreover, this service is considered a good alternative to motor vehicles because it eases traffic congestion and reduces air and noise pollution in urban areas.  Since 2008, Smoove has supplied equipment for bike share systems in 11 French cities and 5 others in Europe.

Mr Mercat said that he is keenly interested in Da Nang’s public transport development strategies.  In addition, he affirmed that his company is willing to help the city to set up a bike-share system.

In reply, Vice Chairman Tuan asked the municipal Department of Transport to give Smoove sufficient information about the city’s public transport development strategies.