Bike Hire and Car Sharing

The demand for cycle hire schemes is growing and their health-related and green credentials are key in many authorities’ local transport plans. Transdev is focused on deploying complementary technology such as smartcards and mobile phone applications to deliver cost-effective cycling solutions which can complement the existing street scene, integrated with other transport networks, and grow cycle use.

Transdev is able to offer a mix of options depending on the needs of the area and funding available. Thus the below options can be seen as modular systems all linked to a shared back office administration system.

Self service bikes

The Group has developed three self service bike operations: Reflex in Chalon/Saône where 150 bikes are booked by mobile phone, Velopop in Avignon where TCRA provide 200 bikes and Velomagg in Montpellier with 500 bikes at 50 locations generating 200,000 journeys in 2008.

The bike sharing system chosen by Transdev offers ergonomic urban bikes, strong resistance to vandalism and low maintenance requirements.

Short term and long term rental

Short term and long term rentals through an agency are offered in two cities in France. In Grenoble, the Metrovelo service offers 1,000 rental bikes including e-bikes. In Montpellier, the Velomagg service offers 1,500 rental bikes and has proved very popular with 600,000 journeys in 2008.

This is a cost effective complement to public bike sharing and can be managed with the same back office system: for the operating cost of 250 self service bikes Transdev can provide a fleet of 1,000 long term rental bikes including maintenance and local branding.

Secure bike parking

Secure bike parking can be used to effectively extend the catchment of key BRT or tram stops by allowing customers to cycle and ride. In Strasbourg, Transdev runs 20 secure bike parks offering 600 spaces and located on the main tram stations, with an easy access via smartcards. In Montpellier, 350 spaces are offered via nine bike locations at tram “Park and Ride” and 6 bike locations at city centre car parks. In Grenoble's railway stations Metrovelo offers 360 spaces.

Car Sharing 

We are developing car sharing and pooling projects as a complement to our more traditional transport offerings. We operate two car sharing schemes in Paris and Nantes, and have signed agreements with car sharing operators in Montpellier, Grenoble and Strasbourg.

Cars are rented over short periods and a charge is only made for the time the car is used. This means that some customers have replaced their personal car with a car sharing membership instead.

In Nantes, Transdev has a 20 per cent share in Marguerite a self-service, very short-term rental service operating 24 hours a day. The subscriber can reserve their car on-line or by telephone up to 5 minutes before, and returns the vehicle to the same location.

In Paris, Transdev has aquired Caisse Commune and offers Parisians an alternative to using their own car with 170 cars available 24/7.

We are also developing car pooling software allowing customers to easily share trips with other customers who are going the same way, often to park at a transport hub.

For more information please see:

Velomagg (French only)
Metrovelo (French only)