Dockless bike share program launched in Richmond

Oct 20 2018, 3:32 am

The City of Richmond now has its own public bike share program, which currently serves areas within the city centre and Steveston.

Earlier this month, U-bicycle launched its service in the municipality with 75 green-coloured bikes and 15 locations for riders to park their bikes.

While users must park and retrieve their bikes from designated parking locations, there are no fixed bike docks, as this system is completely dockless.

The Richmond-based bike share company’s system is entirely app based, available on both iOS and Android. In order to use a bike, cyclists must pay a one-time $50 refundable deposit, and then top up their balance.

The green-coloured bikes can be located and unlocked by scanning the QR code using the app, and the rate for riding is cheap at just $1 per 30 minute period.

Alternatively, frequent users can acquire a 24-hour pass for $15.75 or an annual pass for $157.50.

Solar-powered equipment enables a remote locking device and a GPS locator for both users and operators to locate the bikes.

The municipal government did not provide U-bicycle with any financial support to launch its system.

Richmond Ubicycle Canada

Map of U-bicycle stations in Richmond. (U-bicycle)

As many as 200 bikes could eventually be deployed in Richmond by U-bicycle, and the company is now working on rolling out its program in Port Coquitlam and Port Moody.

A similar dockless bike share program was launched on the UBC campus just in time for the start of new school year by Dropbike.

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