The People’s Committee of Hanoi has approved a plan to establish a public bicycle and electric bicycle share service in five urban districts.

The committee tasked the municipal Department of Transport with building a detailed scheme for the project.

As planned, the department intends to rent out 500 bicycles and 500 electric bikes at 70-80 stations this year in Ba Dinh, Tay Ho, Dong Da, and Thanh Xuan Districts, and at the entrances and exits of the Cat Linh - Ha Dong urban rail line.

The railway line, the first of its kind in Hanoi and Vietnam, started operations late last year and includes 12 stations in Dong Da, Thanh Xuan, and Ha Dong Districts.

The second phase, scheduled for 2023-24, will include expanding the service to other urban districts and increasing the numbers of bicycles and stations to 3,000 and 350, respectively.

The project is estimated to cost VND26 billion (US$1.14 million) and to be privately funded.

It will be piloted for 18 months before being put to official use.

The planned cost to rent one bicycle is VND20,000 ($0.87) per hour and VND200,000 ($8.7) for an entire day.

Tri Nam Corporation will be the operator of the project, according to the Vietnam News Agency.

The company has been operating a public bicycle share service in Ho Chi Minh City since December.

Earlier, Hanoi deputy chairman Duong Duc Tuan approved the reopening of the weekend pedestrian zone around Hoan Kiem Lake in Hoan Kiem District from Friday, 11 months after closing it for COVID-19 prevention on April 30, 2021.

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