Public bike rental service has been given the green light to pilot in Da Nang.

Municipal People's Committee Chairman Le Trung Chinh approved a proposal for a bike rental trial scheme submitted by the Tri Nam Group in most recent meeting.

The Municipal Department for Transport said the Da Nang government would allow a fun and affordable way to travel on a trial basis for local residents and tourists in an attempt to limit the use of private motor vehicles, cut traffic congestion, and improve air quality to realise the city’s goal of building sustainable and green transportation for better quality of life.

The Tri Nam Group will operate a trial featuring 68 docking stations offering 5 to 20 bikes per each to rent for 12 months from the date of trial operation.

The rental bikes are equipped with smart locks and GPS systems. Users are required to install the TNGO application on their smartphones to rent a bike. The app can be used to unlock a bike at any rental spots by scanning the QR code. Users can install the TNGO app on their phones and sign in with their phone numbers to pay bike rental fees via the mobile e-wallet payment services namely Momo, Zalo, Viettel, and VTCPay.

Users can be make stops on their trip at local coffee shops or shopping venues by using the app to lock and unlock their bikes temporarily. The users can return the bike to finish their bike rental at any rental spots in Da Nang.

The fee in the trial period is fixed at VND5,000 per 30 minutes and VND50,000 per day. This offer only applies to all residents with permanent household registration status in Da Nang.

Meanwhile, prices which apply to tourists start at VND10,000 for 30 minutes, with a day costing VND100,000.

A year after the trial run of public bike rental service, the Municipal Department for Transport will submit an assessment report of its operation to the municipal administration for consideration. The expansion of this service will be given the go-ahead if it proves successful during its trial operations.

Reporting by PHUONG UYEN – Translating by H.L