The City of Zagreb announced the expansion and improvement of the public bicycle system Bajs 2.0, which will receive a number of new functionalities after a little more than six months of operation. The package of changes is based on usage analysis and citizen feedback, and includes an increase in the number of bicycles, new subscription models and optimization of the station network.
“We are noticing a continuous growth in the number of users of the Bajs public bicycle system. With the arrival of spring, this trend is getting even stronger. We currently have more than 70,000 registered users of the Bajs service, which is comparable to the number of inhabitants of a city the size of Zadar. More than half a million rentals have been recorded, and when all rides are added up, in the past six months, users have traveled more than a million kilometers, which is a distance greater than a trip to the moon and back,” said the mayor Tomislav Tomasevic.
Among the key news is the arrival of more than 1,000 new bikes after the summer, which will increase availability by 50 percent. A new annual subscription is being introduced, which enables rides of up to 45 minutes for 45 euros, while keeping the existing option of 30 minutes. The break between rides is shortened from 30 to 20 minutes, which should facilitate more frequent use during the day.
The city also plans to optimize the network of stations, which will number a total of 195 locations. Along with 28 new stations, 12 less used ones will be removed. Also, a pilot project of cargo bikes is being launched at four locations that have not yet been named.
“The pilot project of cargo bikes is also a big novelty. It is an independent but complementary service that will be tested at four locations in the city’s neighborhoods. The cargo bikes are intended for citizens who do not use a car or do not have one at their disposal, and need to do shopping, go to the lot, the recycling yard or transport children,” the head pointed out. Andro Pavuna.
Despite the expansion of the system and the increase in the number of bicycles, Tomašević points out that there will be no increase in the price of the service.