Ostrava bikesharing pilot project to be launched in May

Ostrava’s bikesharing scheme – which forms part of the City’s Strategic Development Plan – is nearing its launch after many months of detailed preparation. From 1 May, bike stations will be located at 39 different locations in the wider city centre. During the opening phase of the project, a total of 180 bikes will be available for public use; these urban bikes will feature low saddles for easy mounting and dismounting, coaster brakes (where you pedal backwards to apply the brake), and a practical front basket for carrying small loads. The service will be provided by Rekola Bikesharing, and it will not cost the City anything. The bikesharing scheme will run from May until the winter season (at the latest 21 December, when the contract with Rekola expires).

The scheme will enable users to borrow a bike at one station and return it at a different location. Each station will include a mobile stand with space for 6–12 bikes. It will only be possible to return a bike to one of the stands listed in the system (in the app or on the web). If a user fails to return the bike to one of the stands, a fine will be charged. The bikes will be regularly collected and taken to other stations within the city, which will ensure that all stations are kept properly stocked at all times.

Ostrava’s Mayor Tomáš Macura explained the importance of the scheme: “Bikesharing enables us to offer citizens and visitors a modern, eco-friendly form of transport. It will have a positive impact not only on the health of its users (cyclists), but also on quality of life for all Ostrava’s citizens: cycling is a zero-emissions, low-noise form of transport, and it will help to reduce car use and improve traffic flow within the city centre. And what’s more, cycling is more than just a form of transport – it’s a lifestyle.”

At the end of this year, the City of Ostrava and Rekola will evaluate the level of public interest in the scheme (both among citizens and visitors to Ostrava) during the first phase of the project. Depending on the results of the evaluation, the service may be adjusted and/or expanded to serve other parts of the city. The first 15 minutes will be free of charge, and there will be a charge of 18 CZK for the next 45 minutes. After that first hour, each 15 minutes will cost just 6 CZK. Before borrowing a bike, users will need to register in the Rekola system. It will also be possible to use SMS text messages for borrowing and returning bikes; each message sent will cost the user 1 CZK, and users will be billed at the start of each month. Rekola will provide user info via a telephone call centre (in Czech and English) on weekdays from 9:00–17:00, as well as via e-mail, Facebook messenger, the company’s website, and smartphone apps (iPhone, Android).

The origins of the bikesharing scheme

The origins of the bikesharing scheme date back to 2016, when the City carried out a survey to determine the level of public interest in such a project. Almost 1700 people replied, and almost 90% of respondents supported the idea: 63% said they would use the scheme occasionally, and 24% said they would use it on a regular basis. The questionnaire also revealed that most of Ostrava’s citizens travel either by car or by public transport; only 7% are cyclists. It is expected that the bikesharing scheme will help increase this figure.

Ostrava’s Deputy Mayor Kateřina Šebestová, whose area of responsibility includes the environment, commented: “We are very pleased to be launching the scheme with Rekola before the beginning of the main summer season. Our public opinion survey clearly indicated that Ostrava’s citizens support the idea of bikesharing – but only the upcoming months will reveal how many people actually use the scheme in practice. We are confident that this eco-friendly form of transport will take root here in Ostrava, meaning that many people will leave their cars at home and choose to cycle instead.”

Respondents to the City’s questionnaire identified a number of key locations where they considered bikesharing to be particularly useful. These included the main square in the city centre (Masarykovo náměstí), Lower Vítkovice, the Forum Nová Karolina shopping mall, and the main railway station. All these locations will be served by the scheme from its launch on 1 May. A total of 39 locations are planned – most in the central municipal district (Moravská Ostrava a Přívoz), with one station each in the districts of Petřkovice, Vítkovice and Slezská Ostrava.

The precise locations of the bikesharing stations can be viewed on a map here: https://mapy.cz/s/2wDXV

Ostrava has supported cycling in the city for many years. There are around 250 kilometres of dedicated cycle routes within the city, and more are currently being built or planned. The introduction of the bikesharing scheme represents a further step towards creating a healthier, cleaner and more eco-friendly transport system in Ostrava.

Rekola Bikesharing already runs similar schemes in several other Czech cities: Prague, Brno, Olomouc, České Budejovice, Teplice and Liberec.