Two years have passed since Split received its public bicycle system, which has proved to be a complete success. Since the beginning, public bicycles in Split have been used for 88,566 hours, and users have cycled an incredible 1,328,485 kilometers, over four times more in the second year than the first. The system has thus profiled itself as a fully accepted new mode of public transport that is faster, healthier, and cheaper to use and has become part of the daily lives of many citizens, reports Dalmacija Danas.
In its second year of operation, the system had a major expansion. From the initial 12, it reached 51 stations, which covered all city districts and all important institutions and increased the number of bicycles from 86 to 280 bicycles.
All this has resulted in a large increase in users and rentals. The system currently has 21,848 registered users, of which 80 percent are domestic. Since the beginning, a total of 240,784 rentals have been realized, of which almost 200,000 in the second year alone, which is over four times more than in the first year of operation.
Split Parking said that due to the increase in the number of users in the past year, they also worked on education, so BicikliSTički etiquette was issued, which is also available online so that all traffic participants can be informed how to use the system safely and correctly.
“We plan to continue with the development of the system, and when allowed, to expand it further and connect it with other units within the agglomeration, which we are already working on in cooperation with other partners. We are also thinking and working on developing new functionalities that would make use more enjoyable. For example, last year we introduced a new weekly subscription option, and the annual price for all users has remained the same and is the cheapest form of public transport. For 200 kuna per year, you have an unlimited number of free rides of up to 30 minutes. We believe that the development of cycling infrastructure will accompany the development of the public bicycle system to ensure that all users enjoy cycling as safe as possible,” said Marko Bartulić, director of Split Parking.
“Work is also underway to install surveillance cameras at stations to prevent damage by irresponsible individuals on bicycles. Fortunately, they are in the minority, and such incidents are more the exception than the rule. Most users and citizens are responsible for the system since it is common and available for everyone to use,” concluded Split Parking.
The city of Split is still at the top of the region in terms of figures. May 2021 saw a record number of rentals (36,623), while on June 2, 2021, the record daily number of rentals was achieved (1634).
No less important is the fact that we protect the environment by using this form of transport, and citizens who have cycled instead of cars in these two years have contributed to reducing emissions, i.e., ensured that 332.12 tons of CO2 are less emitted into the atmosphere.
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