Bye, bye BikeS 3!

It sustained 3 million journeys, carried diplomats, presidents, Olympic athletes, football players, and musicians, and took part in a triathlon. Third-generation BikeS finishes its last season on Monday.

It was launched on 21 August 2014 under the “Be eco, switch over to Bike_S!” slogan. Szczecin inhabitants enjoyed the city bike and started to use it intensively.  At launch, nearly 1,200 users were registered at www.bikes-srm.pl, now that number has exceeded 50 thousand.

The social smartphone apps were quickly developed. The Gumieńce Housing Estate Council carried out training explaining how to register. Requests for additional stations started to come in from numerous districts of Szczecin.

In the years that followed, BikeS continued to grow and rent out, but also took part in a number of various events, some of those even came as a surprise.

To work, for groceries, for leisure

The Ambassador of Denmark, Steen Homme, used the BikeS during his visit to Szczecin in 2014. Baltic Neopolis Orchestra became the musical patron of the station situated at Bogusław promenade.

“To work, from work and then to get groceries. For leisure on weekends. Each reason was great just to ride the bike. I fell in love with the BikeS and got my son hooked on it as well, thank you! And, of course, CONGRATS,” said Beata, one of the most loyal BikeS users, on our Facebook profile in the Autumn of 2014.

In December 2015, the energy generated by pedalling on 10 BikeS (stationary bikes this time) was used to illuminate the wonderful Christmas tree situated at the Orła Białego Square at the initiative of Ms Anna Kapturska from the Gelatiamo ice cream parlour.

BikeS also took part in the slowest bike ride at the former Stojaki Cafe at Rayskiego St., as well as appeared twice during the more extreme event at Triathlon Szczecin. In 2016, Grzegorz Sejnota finished 45 kilometres at 1/4 of the classic triathlon within 01:47:43 (at an average speed of 25.87 km/h). In 2018, Mateusz Sechlicki finished the same distance within 01:44:39!

Filip, a 36-year-old engineer, had to have iron legs to be able to ride 250 km around the Szczecin Lake in one day, at an average speed of 24.7 km/h. He did so in the summer of 2019.

Green bikes took part in photoshoots for football calendars twice: once for the gentlemen from Pogoń Szczecin (2019) and once for the ladies from Olimpia Szczecin (2017).

We used BikeS to teach how to safely ride the bike around the city and how to comply with road traffic safety regulations (inspired by Rowerowy Szczecin, thank you!).

Three million rentals

The key balance of BikeS is the number of rentals, which has reached nearly three million throughout seven seasons.

BikeS had the best score in 2016 – 565 thousand. At the same time, 2016 saw a record month – the inhabitants of Szczecin rode 108 thousand kilometres in September.

The Szczecin City Bike was rented most often between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. We used it far more often during weekdays than on weekends. That means that the Bike_S initiative was used as intended, i.e. as an alternative to car transport (both individual and collective).

This season – in the pandemic context – come to an end with a total number of 215 thousand rentals.

Two stages of BikeS

Initially, the system consisted of 33 stations and 342 bikes. In August of 2016, Bike_S was expanded with 43 new stations and 344 bikes. 29 stations were situated in Prawobrzeże, and 14 in the Zachód District. The primary aim of the investment in Prawobrzeże was to increase the mobility of the inhabitants, in particular the passengers of the Szczecin Rapid Tram who used the tram loop at Turkusowa and the tram stop at Gryfińska. The station in the Zachód District was a decision of the voters who took part in the Szczecin Civic Budget 2016.

Nextbike Polska won the tender procedure for the supply of new stations and bikes.

The last days of BikeS 3

From now on, the serviced bikes will not be returned to the streets, and the remaining bikes will be collected on Monday, November 30^th, at 4 p.m. The system will be turned off after midnight.

Fourth-generation BikeS

Fourth-generation BikeS will be introduced next year. You will not have to return or rent a bike from a specific station. Each bike will have its own terminal and GPS. Changes in the price list will be introduced as well. We will switch to a subscription-based system. Another important change: the bikes will be available throughout the year.

NiOL company intends to carry out a tender procedure for the delivery of new bikes in December. Fourth-generation BikeS will start in the spring next year. The exact date will be announced after the contractor is selected.