Imatra's city bike trial yielded valuable information

The city of Imatra tested the functionality of city bikes in the city in the summer of 2018. 

City engineer Päivi Pekkanen according to the experiment gave important information about the use of city bikes.

- The arrival of city bikes was really positively received at Imatra, but the number of users could have been bigger, Pekkanen summarizes the results of the experiment. 

Fifty city bikes were distributed on July 25 to Vuoksenniska, Keskuasema and Imatrankoski. From the points, bikes slowly spread to other bike parks, of which Imatra had a total of 15.

- There was good feedback that the bikes were available and the application for their use was considered convenient. The prices of the bikes were also considered reasonable, Pekkanen sums up the successes.

The application needed for using city bikes was downloaded 271 times. However, the use of bicycles was limited to 231 trips. Pekkanen thinks that the main reason for such little use was the heavy and gearless city bike model.

- The ease of use of the bikes received the lowest rating in the survey. It seems that the characteristics of the bike curbed the urge to drive. The ideal time for cycling was also quite short, as the bikes did not arrive in Imatra until the end of July. The active period of use lasted practically a month. After that, the weather worsened and the bikes moved less.

Last summer, city bikes were offered by Easybike. Those who responded to the user survey hoped to cycle to Imatra next summer as well. That's what happens if a willing actor is found.

- This year's city bikes ran with project money. No money has been allocated for city bikes for the coming summer, so everything depends on whether there is an entrepreneur willing to do the job. There are interested actors and discussions are held with them. If you are interested, we have at least good information to offer about how the bikes were used, Päivi Pekkanen advises.

More detailed information about users and feedback can be viewed in the attachments of the news.

For more information: 
City engineer Päivi Pekkanen, phone 020 617 4418, paivi. pekkanenimatra.fi (paivi[dot]pekkanen[at]imatra[dot]fi)
Communications expert Heikki Laine, tel. 020 617 2321, weak. waveimatra.fi (heikki[dot]laine[at]imatra[dot]fi)