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Bike sharing – what it was
It’s been quite a while since I wrote about BikeMi – Milan‘s “bike sharing” service, a network of bicycles that can be rented and used as an alternative means of public transportation.
In the meantime, BikeMi’s bicycle fleet has expanded to include electric, pedal-assisted bicycles, bringing the total number of traditional bicycles and 1,000 electric bicycles on the network to 3,650 today. The rental rules have not changed for now. To use the service, one must register and pay a subscription – annual, weekly or daily. For more news, I refer you to the website, where I have already described the rental rules as well as updated the costs.
New way to rent bicycles in Milan
A real change in the bike-sharing system, is the entry of two competitors from China into the Milan market! Since September, in addition to the traditional yellow and red BikeMi bicycles, you can also see yellow bikes with black elements from Ofo and gray bikes with orange wheels from Mobike (which, by the way, have already taken hold in some European cities for good).
The new principle of bike sharing that distinguishes these two new competitors from BikeMi, called “free-floating” in English, is that with the help of a cell phone app, we find the nearest available bike that we can use. We move to our destination and leave the bike in a convenient place, being careful only not to block traffic as well as pedestrians.
The second difference from BikeMi, and a common characteristic between the two new services, is that they both operate on similar principles. You need to download the app to your phone, unlock it by entering your credit card information and you can already search for bikes available nearby. Once you find a bike you can reserve it for the next 15 minutes and you can cancel 5 reservations per day. Once you get to the bike, again using our phone we scan the QR code on the bike to unlock the padlock. After using the bike, we leave it in a convenient place, which is a real convenience compared to BikeMi, because we don’t have to look for free racks. We already lock the padlock manually and check in the app whether the rental service has been correctly completed.
Some technical details
In terms of technical features, both bikes have wheels slightly smaller than the BikeMi. And both have no inner tubes, which effectively improves their maintenance, but which nevertheless makes them run a little heavier and better for shorter distances.
The Ofo has wheels a little larger than the Mobike, and an important difference is that it has a gearshift handle (3 gears are available).
Price
As for the price, in both you definitely don’t have to pay a subscription. Mobike currently costs 30 cents for every half hour charged to your credit card. Ofo is yet to set its rates, so you can still ride for free for a while.
iOS and Android applications
You can download the app for both iOS and Android.
OFO
MOBIKE
The new bike-sharing companies and the introduction of new rules certainly motivate people to change their mode of transportation. And personally, I think it’s a very good alternative, to the clogged metro and perpetually late buses and streetcars. You just have to pay close attention, because Milanese drivers are not among the most disciplined!
I lived in Milan for 18 years, and it was there that I came to know the city’s daily life best - not just its landmarks, but also its rhythm, its habits, and its less obvious sides. Today I live in Wrocław, but I still return to Milan regularly.