Cinderella transformation
After an extensive review, the Taipei City Department of Transportation decided to expand the system. YouBike launched 30 more rental stations in August 2012, finally extending the service beyond the Xinyi District. The operators decided at the same time to ease the registration requirements, enabling users to register with a cell phone number. Giant even went so far as to make the first 30 minutes of use free of charge for registered users. This three-pronged approach has proved effective.
Over the three-month period from August to November 2012, the system was used 670,000 times, or more than double the number of uses throughout the previous three years. Through November 2012, Taipei’s system has been used a total of more than 1 million times.
Vicky Yang, currently spokesperson for Giant’s YouBike division, says: “Price and registration hassles are secondary issues. The key is to have enough stations.” Yang led a group to Europe during a stint as president of YouBike and was profoundly impressed by the Parisian system, which made her realize just how carefree urban transport could be.
One aspect of the Parisian system that YouBike has emulated since its inception is the integration of card sensors with bike stands. This not only saves space, but also allows riders to make sure their bike is problem-free before renting it. Giant has even gone Paris one better, maximizing the efficient use of space with stands that hold two bikes instead of just one.
YouBike’s systems are advanced, and its bikes are of good quality. In fact, its NT$9,000 bikes include a number of features that enhance their safety and comfort.
For example, YouBike’s bicycles use a “step-through” frame design without a high horizontal crossbar. Moderate shock absorption and a well made drivetrain make them comfortable and easy for both men and women to ride on city streets. The bikes have all-weather taillights that light up when the rider pedals and include a small battery to keep them lit for up to 90 seconds when the rider has stopped. The bikes’ headlights are also pedal-powered and turn on automatically at twilight. The bikes even come with locks so riders won’t lose them if they have to park for a moment.
In fact, the bikes are so well built that the company has received numerous inquiries from people interested in buying them for their personal use.
Currently, YouBike bicycles are each used an average of seven to eight times per day. At busier stations, such as the one by the Taipei City Government Metro station, the average rises to 10 times per day. In other words, usage rates are high, complicating bike maintenance and deployment.
Yang says that Giant currently has four dispatch vehicles transporting bicycles between rental stations day and night in order to match availability with demand. As the number of stations increases, YouBike will increase the number of personnel. This will be expensive for the company, which right now is losing NT$1.2 million per month.
To support the introduction and use of low-carbon modes of transportation, the Environmental Protection Administration has allocated NT$18 million from the air pollution fund to enable YouBike to continue to offer riders the first 30 minutes for free through the end of 2013.
You can release a bike from its stand by swiping a registered EasyCard across the card reader. But remember to first check the brakes, tire pressure, and seat to be sure it’s safe to ride.