I’Velo Urban

A premiere in Bucharest, Green Revolution, together with its partners Raiffeisen Bank and Kaufland Romania, launched the first I’Velo Urban automated bike-sharing stations.

Starting with 27 September 2016, I’Velo Urban has ensured better mobility options for citizens, with stations located in the most important areas in the city and on the busiest routes in terms of users of public transportation. The automated bike-sharing stations are: Universitatii Square, Revolutiei Square, Romana Square, Victoriei Square, Kaufland Barbu Vacarescu.

Representatives of local and institutional authorities, partners and the media were present at the project launch event, supproting and saluting the launch of this project in the city:

I would like to congratulate Green Revolution for this initiative. I fully support this type of project, both from an institutional and personal perspective, as it teaches us to be green, to exercise, to take care of our city”
stated Gabriela Firea, Bucharest’s General Mayor.

Bucharest’s General Mayor mentioned that, in the last meeting of the General Council, 19 projects included in the Integrated Urban Development Plan were approved, one of them concerning the building of 42 bike routes in Bucharest.

In the period to come, tendering procedures will be organised after feasibility studies have been conducted. Thus, soon, this pilot project will become a reality and Bucharest will be crossed by bike paths, both for leisure and for transportation purposes”
stated the General Mayor.
I’Velo Urban is a fresh, modern and contemporary project, which is absolutely necessary at this time in Bucharest, a city that seems to have been built for cycling”,
declared Katharina Scheidereiter, CSR Manager Kaufland Romania
Why are we supporting this project? We want healthy inhabitants. Pollution in Bucharest is one of the factors affecting the citizens’ health. This is why we invest in local communities, especially in projects for the improvement of the environment. Starting today, 27 September 2016, Bucharest is on the map of European capitals with automated bike-sharing systems. I hope to see as many such bike stations as possible and, soon, as many paths as possible.”,
stated Cristian Sporis, Vice-President of Raiffeisen Bank.

The novelty for this unique concept on the bike-sharing market in Bucharest is self-service and bike use under a subscription. The subscription allows the use of a bike for 30 minutes, followed by a similar break. Thus, a user may rent the bike several times a day, provided that, after each 30-minute cycling period, he/she returns it to one of the I’Velo Urban stations. Exceeding the 30-minute period of grace results in additional costs.

Another important feature of the I’Velo Urban system is that users may choose their own bikes from the rack. The 210 bikes may be rented 24/7, in any season, from any of the 5 automated stations and may be returned to the closest automated station in the I’Velo Urban system.

The new concept aims at reducing traffic congestion in Bucharest and contributing to better urban mobility. The main directions are encouraging people to leave their cars at home or use public transportation and bikes to travel fast in the busy areas in the city. Bike-sharing is beneficial to the cyclists’ health and contributes to the reduction of noise and air pollution in large communities.

In order to benefit from the services of the system, users must create an account on www.ivelo.ro and register with one of the I’Velo Relax centres in Herastrau Park (Subway Station Aviatorilor and Arcul de Triumf) and Tineretului Park (Gheorghe Sincai entrance) to receive the I’Velo card. During the cold season, the I’Velo Urban card may be bought from the I’Velo Urban office on 21 Prof. Ion Bogdan St. (Dorobanti area). A bike can be rented based on the I’Velo personal card and validation is carried out at any I’Velo Urban automated station, upon first rental.

For more information and details on the operation of automated bike-sharing stations, please access www.ivelo.ro.

Inspired by similar bike-sharing projects successfully implemented in European capitals, I’Velo Urban is a project 100% made in Romania.

  • the automated stations and racks are manufactured in Romania, with indigenous workforce, raw materials and expertise
  • the automated information system has been developed by programmers of a Romanian IT company
  • it offers tens of jobs, thus contributing to reducing unemployment and to a larger local and national budget, from collection of taxes and duties

The I’Velo projects means, at the same time, a continuous preoccupation with increasing the users’ satisfaction by offering quality services, but also professional and friendly staff, ready to be of service to cyclists.