Here is how it works. Registered users for Nextbike services in Croatia can rent a bike from any Nextbike station and return it to any official Nextbike location. The system functions as a form of public transportation and requires registration and account activation with a payment of only 79 kuna.
Image by nextbike.hr
An example of Nextbike thriving is in Zadar, who is in their pilot stage for the company this year. From May 24, when Zadar began their pilot project for Nextbike, until September 30, there have been 883 registered users for a total of 25 bikes that are taken or returned at four locations throughout the city. According to the classification of users, 58% are citizens and 42% are tourists. There have been a total of 3,462 individual leases, and each member has used Nextbike an average of 4 times, reports ZadarskiList.
“Most of the bicycles are used between the Peninsula and the bus station (in Zadar), and if we continue with the project, we believe that we should have more points in the city where you can rent bicycles, or return them,” says Andrea Barabbas, city head for island development and environmental protection.
Barabbas highlights the benefits in reducing carbon dioxide emissions by using Nextbike, and according to the European Cycling Federation, after the use of bicycles in the city, 1970 kilos of CO2 were “saved”.
“When we finish the pilot project we will work on the analysis, and look at the results for the acceptance and use of this system by citizens. The public transport system is not designed primarily for tourists, although of course they will use it. Primarily, Nextbike is there for our citizens in an effort to change their habits regarding transportation,” says Barabbas.
Nextbike began in Zagreb 3 years ago and it is evident that Zagreb is the main Nextbike hub. Back in May of this year, the Zagreb City Council, after the three-year pilot project of Nextbike, recently declared that the public bicycle sharing system would be a city-led activity. Krešimir Dvorski, the director of Nextbike, believes that the City will continue to provide adequate support to the further development of Nextbike.
"We could have as many as 100,000 new users if the network of stations could be expanded to at least 50 locations throughout Zagreb. This should be accompanied by the improvement of cycling infrastructure as a necessary precondition for the mass use of bicycles as a means of transportation.”
Nextbike offers their users a fast, convenient, healthy, safe and cost-effective mode of transport, which takes place under the slogan: "Sit down and drive!". To actively participate in the development of cycling culture in Croatia and encourage people to use the bicycle for everyday purposes, contributing to their own health and well-being of all citizens, click here.
Let’s not forget one of the best parts: You can enjoy 30 minutes of free riding every day.
