OREANDA-NEWS. The Bank of Moscow announces the commencement of the VeloBike project aimed at creating a seasonal bike hire network in the city. The Project is to be implemented in co-operation with the Moscow Transport Department. The first pilot stations will start working before the end of May.

The name of the VeloBike Project of the Bank of Moscow consists of two parts that make the idea understandable for both Russian and English speaking users. Besides the use of the two, Russian and English, shortenings of the word "bicycle" help avoid misunderstanding as the word "bike" can erroneously be associated with a motorbike.

The Bank plans to organise more than 100 bicycle stations in Moscow that will work automatically 24 hours a day. The bike hire network will allow the town people and visitors to use bicycles for short distance trips. A hired bike can be returned to any of the automatic stations.

Users will be registered and bike rental fees will be paid on a special website with any bank cards being accepted for payment.

During the first season that will last until the end of October 2013, 1000 bicycles are planned to be used. Bicycles will be supplied by HOMEPORT, a Czech company that has already taken part in similar projects in Czechia, France, Great Britain and other countries.

"Today a bike infrastructure helps many large cities resolve the problem of convenient and fast transit across the city, so the Bank of Moscow enthusiastically participates in the creation of one in Moscow. It is important for us that the city develops and becomes more comfortable for living," commented Mikhail Kuzovlev, President and the Chairman of the Board of the Bank of Moscow.

The VeloBike Project is the second stage of the Bank’s work aimed at developing a bike infrastructure in Moscow. In 2012 the Bank joined as a partner a free bike hire project in the city parks. As the project was implemented 16 319 people became users within less than two months. The average age of the town people who hired bikes was 33.1 years. There was 48.9% of men and 51.1% of women.