A newly-installed bike rental station in the Sanliutun area of Beijing - empty because the bikes haven't yet been fitted.

One of the bike terminals at the station in Sanliutun.

After spotting a newly-installed bike rental terminal on a street in central Beijing, we decided to pull together a few statistics and stories on the city government's second attempt to introduce a bicycle sharing system.

Given the perils of long-distance biking across the city and the speed with which Bejingers have swapped bikes for cars, it seems unlikely that Beijing's latest efforts will get people biking into work.

 
Beijing’s Planned Bike Rental Scheme in Numbers
20,000 bikes for rent
500 kisoks for rentals
300 yuan deposit
Half an hour free use
One yuan for each additional hour 
19% ridership rate in Beijing

“The problem is those people who are riding are basically riding because they have no other choice and as soon as they have the opportunity to choose a different type of transport, they will.”
Australian bike enthusiast Shannon Bufton told chinadialogue in a general interview about biking in Beijing, where he lives.

 
Links:
On the 2012 Scheme
Xinhua More rental bikes, subway lines to ease Beijing traffic congestion
Global Times Free bike scheme going nowhere
China Daily Beijing pedals new bike rental scheme
On the abandoned 2007 Scheme
China Daily High hopes for Beijing\'s bicycle rental scheme
On the difficulty of co-ordinating public bike rental schemes
The Financial Times Follow that bike [on London’s scheme]