With more than 15,000 trips racked up in just one week since it was introduced, Helsinki’s city bike programme is clearly on to something. However officials still have some homework to do when it comes to communicating the dos and don’ts of the bike share programme.
It turns out that info boards located at bike stations don’t indicate how much it actually costs to use a bike, nor do they inform users that cyclists who don’t return their rentals on time are liable to face an 80-euro penalty. The fine can be incurred if a user exceeds the maximum five-hour usage limit in a 24-hour period.
"To keep the system running and to ensure that bikes aren’t just left lying about but to keep them in constant rotation, we wanted to set a maximum usage time," explained project engineer Samuli Mäkinen of Helsinki Regional Transport HKL.
"If it’s exceeded then it’s natural that there will be the same kind of fine as in other kinds of public transportation violations, such as travelling without a ticket. That’s where the 80 euros comes from," Mäkinen added.
HKL promises to do better
Because of what it has acknowledged to be shortcomings in its signage, HKL has waived some of the fines incurred. The public transportation body promised to step up its communications game both online and physically, by increasing the number of info points at central bike pickup stations.
At the moment customers get information on terms and conditions of use as well as information on possible penalties when they register online to use the system.
"Maybe it needs to be more clearly indicated on the website," Mäkinen conceded.
"If the terms of use or fees appear to be unclear and if users feel they have not been treated fairly, they can of course contact us and we can review situations on a case by case basis," Mäkinen observed.
Although some users have reported problems using the bikes, feedback on the system has for the most part been positive. In just one week some 4,000 registered users have taken bikes out on more than 15,000 trips through the city.
In general cyclists take to the saddle for leisurely spins on weekends, while weekday users tend to use them for commuting to and from school or work.
Helsinki launched the service last week with 500 bikes at 50 bike stations across the city. It plans to expand to 1,500 bikes and 150 stations and to eventually provide park-and-ride services.
