The Valladolid bicycle rental system (BIKI) celebrates its first year since its implementation with a balance of 419,000 uses and 15,242 registered users, which means that it is “a success story” and something that has come “to stay”, according to The mobility councilor, Alberto Gutiérrez, stressed this Wednesday at a press conference.
Precisely, on the occasion of this anniversary, to maintain the good figures of the municipal service, a discount promotion will be launched to promote the regular use of bicycles and attract new users, in addition to BIKI extending its services to the municipalities of alfoz, It will have new access points and will offer cargo bikes adapted for people with reduced mobility.
As the manager of AUVASA, Eduardo Cabanillas, explained to journalists, the system currently has 97 stations and 856 bicycles, of which 452 are mechanical and 404 are electric.
He has indicated that the record of active people surpassed the barrier of 9,000 on March 15 of last year and that a new rebound is now expected taking advantage of the anniversary promotion and the return of better weather, “which will keep users active with greater use”.
He specified that the most common profile used by BIKI is that of a young person, between 18 and 30 years old, who lives in the western or southern part of the city and who travels for work or study.
There is a greater presence of use by men, with 80%, and regarding the type of rate chosen by citizens, they are committed to the acquisition of an annual subscription for mechanical bicycles, due in part to the initial promotion and the low entry cost to the system, although currently the data speaks of approximately 70% use of electrical energy compared to mechanical energy.
The system started with a distribution of 75% mechanical bicycles and 25% electric bicycles and the current structure is practically balanced, at 50% each. The most popular stations are in the central area and the most used is the one located in front of the train station.
On the occasion of BIKI’s first birthday, a promotion is now being launched with discounts on its rates, 70 percent on mechanical bikes and 50 percent on electric bikes during the month of February.
Gutiérrez explained that one of the key projects for the service is its extension to municipalities in the Alfoz, such as Zaratán or La Cistérniga, and work is being done on this so that this can be a reality during this second year of BIKI’s life.
Finally, he said that this year BIKI will incorporate cargo bicycles and bicycles adapted for people with reduced mobility, with which different social projects will be developed and to promote the delivery of parcels or last-mile merchandise by bicycle.
