Helsinki has been planning to invest in a new municipal bike-sharing system for many years. The plan becomes a reality in May 2016, when the city will acquire 500 new bicycles and the equipment for 50 city bike stations. In 2017, the programme is slated to grow to 1,500 bicycles and three times the number of stations.
Four suppliers have reached the final stages of the tendering competition, each representing a consortium of several companies, as no one supplier can produce the entire package.
Helsinki City Transport’s Managing Director Ville Lehmuskoski says his favourite is the Moventia-Smoove SAS-Clear Channel Suomi- Helkama Velox team.
“I feel confident that their offer will be selected. In terms of quality, all of the four contenders are very good and the bikes are in every way superior to the bikes Helsinki has had in the past. When it comes to price, however, their offer is the best option for the taxpayers,” he says.
Ten years, 13 million euros
The winner of the tender will supply the bicycles and their service for ten years. The project is estimated to cost close to 13 million euros, although some of the funding will also come from advertising featured at the bike stations.
Price and quality will determine the team that is selected. Quality has been confirmed in tests with third-party parties charged with evaluating how each system functions.
The HKL executive board will make its final decision at its October 20 board meeting.
The City of Helsinki's previous Helsinki CityBikes bike sharing programme was terminated in 2010 owing to funding issues and ongoing vandalism that required costly repairs and replacement of bicycles.