We inform you that for the race "Deejay Ten", that will start from Piazza Duomo on October 8th, the BikeMi stations #1 - Duomo and 102 - Arcivescovado will be temporary closed on Sunday from 1.00 AM to 3 PM.

We apologize for the inconvenience and we suggest you to use the following adjacent stations:

2 - San Babila 

9 - S. Stefano

42 - San Pietro all'Orto 

45 - Cantù

49 - Meda

50 - Beccaria

64 - Diaz

We inform you that in order to allow restoration works at the adjacent buildings, from Monday October 2nd the BikeMi station number BikeMi 92 - Cordusio, will be temporary closed.

We apologize for the inconvenience and we invite you to use the following station instead:

• 45 Cantù
• 60 Edison
• 74 San Tomaso
• 75 Cusani
• 1 Duomo

We inform you that to allow the set-up of an event in Piazza Affari, the station number 60 Edison - Posta wil be temporary closed from Saturday September 23rd and will be reopened during the morning of Sunday September 24th.

We inform you that due to works in Risorgimento Square the BikeMi station number 127 - Risorgimento will be temporary closed from Saturday September 9th.

We apologize for the inconvenience and we invite you to use the following adjacent stations:

123 - Castel Morrone - M. A. Di Savoia 
125 - Fratelli Bandiera 
126 - Modena - Castel Morrone 
128 - Indipendenza-Castel Morrone 
133 - Dateo

We inform you that the BikeMi station number 141 - Caldara - Curtatone, temporary closed to allow works at the gas network, in now active again.

We inform you that, due to works at the electric network, the BikeMi station #101 - Gadio - Paleocapa will be temporary closed from Monday Steptember 4th.

We apologize for the inconvenience and we suggest you to use the following adjacent stations:

• 84 Cadorna 2 – Paleocapa
• 94 Cadorna 3
• 3 Cadorna 1
• 33 Alemagna – Triennale
• 263 Castello

We will notify you at the end of the works.

We inform you that the BikeMi station number 184 - Porta Volta, closed due to works at the gas network, is now active again.

Have you downloaded the BikeMi App, yet? If not, it is time to do it!

Available for every iOS, Android and Windows devices, the application it’s the quickest and easiest way to access the service, an essential support for those who use daily the Milan bike sharing system.

With the SUBSCRIBE! function, subscriptions can be bought in less than a minute simply filling the form.

The App gives direct access to BikeMi interactive MAP. Easy to read and updated in real time, it’s a useful instrument especially during the rush hour.

Every subscriber can also log in into the USER AREA. Here it is possible to verify the uses history, check the charges, know the expiration date of the subscription, change or update the payment method. It is possible to active the card too or block it in case of missing.

The App is endowed with a TIMER that permits to clock the ongoing use: this way the risk to exceed the two hours limit is reduced.

Lastly, thanks to the PUSH notifications, the subscriber receives important notices about its uses (return confirmation, overcoming of the time limit, accruing of penalties,…) and the service.

The download of the App is possible in every BikeMi station through NFC tecnology or with the QR code present near the touch screen and on every bicycle.

Many features enclosed in a single application to make easier the everyday life of BikeMi users.

We inform you that to allow works of maintenance at the gas network, BikeMi station number 141 - Caldara - Curtatone will be temporary closed from July 3rd.

We apologize for the inconvenience and we suggest you to use the following adjacent stations:

• 23 - Regina Margherita
• 71 - Medaglie D’Oro 2
• 22 - Medaglie D’Oro 1
• 82 - Dell’Umanitaria
• 30 - Crocetta

We inform you that due to works at the road surface the BikeMi station number 104 - M.Gioia - "Regione", it is closed from Wednesday June 7th. 

We apologize for the inconvenience and we suggest you to use the following adjacent stations:

25 - Centrale 1 
26 - Centrale 2 
46 - Porta Nuova 
52 - Vittor Pisani 
91 - Gioia - Pirelli

We will announce the reopening of the station at the end of the works.

We inform you that due to works ad the adjacent building, the BikeMi station number 90 Gioia - Sassetti will be closed from Tuesday May 23rd.

We apologise for the incovenience and we inform you that nearby you can use the following stations:

90 Gioia - Pirelli

104 M.Gioia - Regione

106 Restelli - Galvani 1

121 Filzi - Pirelli 

199 Restelli - Galvani 2

We inform you that on Saturday May 20th the BikeMi station number 100 - Palazzo Marino will be temporary closed to allow television shooting.

The station will be reactivated in the evening.

We apologize for the inconvenience and we suggest you to use the following adjacent stations:

1 - Duomo

42 - San Pietro all'Orto

49 - Meda

50 - Beccaria

64 - Diaz

102 - Arcivescovado

We inform you that due to works at the gas network, the BikeMi station number 81 Bocconi 2 - Bach is be temporary closed starting from Monday May 15th. 

We will inform you when it will be reactivated.

We apologize for the inconvenience and we invite you to use the following adjacent stations:

21 - Università Bocconi 
37 - Italia - San Martino 
88 - Beatrice d'Este - Cassolo 
89 - Patellani

We inform you that during the night between Tuesday May 2nd and Wednesday May 3rd, an extraordinary maintanance of BikeMi will be performed. In the time slot between 11.15 PM and the end of service, stations will not allow the pick up of bicycles but only the restitution.

We apologize for the inconvenience.

We inform you that from Friday April 21st, the BikeMi station #64 - Diaz, will be moved from via Marconi to Diaz Square in front of building number 6.

With the transfer the station has been extendend: there are now 39 slots for bikes instead of 33.

We inform you that on Thursday April 13th, due to works at the road surface, the BikeMi station number 50 - Beccaria, will be temporary closed from 10 AM to 5 PM. 

We apologize for the inconvenience and we invite you to use the following adjacent stations:

9 - S. Stefano 
42 - San Pietro all'Orto 
49 - Meda 
61 - Augusto 
93 - Borgogna
102 - Arcivescovado

We inform you that because of the bicycle race Milano - Sanremo, the station #263 - Castello will be temporary closed from 7 AM to 12 PM on March 18th. 

We apologize for the inconvenience and we invite you tu use the following adjacent stations:

84 - Cadorna 2

34 - Cairoli

94 - Cadorna 3

28 - San Giovanni sul Muro

3 - Cadorna

101 - Gadio Paleocapa.

Furthermore, we inform you that the station #93 - Borgona will be temporary closed from 7 AM to 12 PM on March 18th, 20th and 23rd 

You can use the the following stations:

2 - San Babila

402 - San Babila Bis

42 - San Pietro all’Orto

86 - Mascagni

61 - Augusto

We inform you that in order to allow works to the gas network in the surrounding area, tha BikeMi station number 118 - VIII Novembre, has been closed.

We apologize for the inconvenience and we suggest you to use the following adjacent stations:

109 - Tunisia Lecco Bellintani 

116 - Morgagni Redi 

123 - Castel Morrone - M. A. Di Savoia 

125 - Fratelli Bandiera

126 - Modena - Castel Morrone

We will infomr you of the reopening, once the works will be concluded.

We inform you that on Saturday February 25th the BikeMi Station number 304 Adamello - Lorenzini will be reopened.

We inform you that in order to allow works by Metropolitana Milanese, the BikeMi station number 304 Adamello - Lorenzini will be temporary removed.

We apologize for the inconvenience and we invite you to use the following adjacent stations:

• 302 De Angeli – Ripamonti
• 303 Brembo – Benaco
• 148 Bonomelli 

We will notify you of the reopening when the works will be completed.

We inform you that the restoration works ad the building adjacent to station number 169 Vesuvio - Lipari are now concluded, the station has been activated again.

We inform you that in order to allow restorarion works at the adjacent building, the BikeMi station number 169 Vesuvio - Lipari it is closed.

We apologize for the inconvenience and we suggest you to use the following nearest stations:

• 78 - Aquileia
• 163 - Rosario
• 167 - Foppa – Caravaggio
• 170 – S.M. del Carso
• 171 – Elba - Cimarosa

We will inform you when the works will end and the station will be active again.

We inform you that starting from Wednesday January 25th, the BikeMi station number 189 Procaccini - Cimitero Monumentale will be temporary closed due to works in the surrounding area.

We apologize for the inconvenience and we invite you to use the following adjacent stations:

• 188 Sarpi – Niccolini
• 187 Sarpi – Albertini
• 185 SS Trinità
• 191 Farini – Quadrio

At the end of the works we will inform you about the reopening of the station.

We inform you that, for reasons of safety, from Saturday December 31st to the morning of January 1st,   the stations nr. 1 Duomo and nr. 102 Arcivescovado will be closed.

Moreover, it will be strongly reduced the availability of bikes at the following stations:

- Nr. 64 Diaz

- Nr. 47 Gorizia 1

- Nr. 48 Gorizia 2

- Nr. 99 Arco della Pace - Bertani

- Nr. 103 Arco della Pace – Pagano

- Nr. 263 Castello

- Nr. 34 Cairoli

- Nr. 28 San Giovanni sul Muro

- Nr. 54 Sant’Eustorgio - Ticinese

- Nr. 38 XXIV Maggio

We apologize for the inconvenience.

Happy New Year 2017 from all the BikeMi Staff!

On Friday December 23rd a new BikeMi station will be opened: the station n. 264 Rio De Janeiro – Del Sarto will be located at the intersection between Largo Rio De Janeiro and via Andrea del Sarto.

The station is bifacial and has 24 slots. 

We inform you that BikeMi station number 72 - Cardina Ferrari, closed for works at the gas network, will be reactivated throughout Wednesday November 23rd.

We inform you that in order to allow the works for the making of the underground line M4, starting from Tuesday October 25th, the BikeMi station number 63 Sant’Agostino will be closed.

We apologize for the inconvenience and we invite you to use the following adjacent stations: 

05 - Cattolica

85 - D’Ancona

40 - Morozzo della Rocca

58 - Sant’Agostino

We inform you that due to requalification works of the area, from October 17th the BikeMi Station #164 Bergognone – Tortona will be temporary closed. The station will be deactiveted from the late night of October 16th.

We apologize for the inconvenience and we invite you tu use the following adjacent stations:

190 - Milizie Tortona

163 - Rosario

87 - Porta Genova

161 - Coni Zugna Solari

Furthermore, we inform you that from Wednesday October 19th the station number 72 Cardinal Ferrari will be temporary closed due to works at the gas network.

You can you the following adjacents stations:

20 - Erculea 

30 - Crocetta 

37 - Italia - San Martino 

44 - Richini 

69 - S. Nazaro in Brolo 

We inform you that due to the works for the construction of the underground line M4, the BikeMi station # 97 – Molino delle Armi is closed.

We apologize for any inconvenience and we invite you to use the following adjacent stations:

54 - Sant’Eustorgio - Porta Ticinese

12 - San Lorenzo - Colonne

36 - San Vito

35 - Torino - Carrobbio

We inform you that the redevelopment works that affected the square are now completed: from Wednesday August 24th 2016, the BikeMi station n.125 - Fratelli Bandiera will be active again.

We inform you that due to works at the road surface, BikeMi station n. 152 San Gottardo will be closed starting from Tuestady June 26th, 2016.

We apologize for any inconvinience and we kindly suggest to use the following adjacent stations:

- 38 XXIV Maggio

- 154 A. Sforza - Pavia

- 155 Naviglio Pavese - Torricelli

- 151 Balilla

Milan is currently affected by the works for the construction of the new underground line M4, which will link the airport of Linate to Lorenteggio crossing the city centre.

The construction site of the Blue Line has entailed the closure of some BikeMi stations previously disclosed:

50 – Beccaria  

19 – Santa Sofia 

24 – Tricolore

166 – Coni Zugna

95 – Resistenza Partigiana (6 slots still active)

In order to allow the works’ development, further stations will be inaccessible in the near future. In particular the concerned stalls will be:

2 – San Babila

63 – Sant’Ambrogio

97 – Molino delle Armi

61 – Augusto

We apologize for any inconvenience: we will promptly notify the dates of the closures and all updates about.

We inform you that in order to allow the works at the underground line M4, from Tuesday July 7^th the station #95 - Resistenza Partigiana is partially closed: only six slots will remain active.

We kindly invite you to pay attention while returning the bike and we suggest you to verify in advance the available slots using BikeMi official app and website.

We apologize for any inconvenience and we invite you to use the following adjacent stations:

5 – Università Cattolica

12 – San Lorenzo – ‘Colonne’

15 – Cantore

35 – Torino – Carrobbio

63 – Sant’Ambrogio

97 – Molino delle Armi

We inform you that due to works at M4 underground, from Saturday June 25th 2016 the station n.19 Santa Sofia will be closed.

We apologize for any inconvenience and we invite you to use the following adjacent stations:

20 - Erculea

37 - Italia - San Martino

65 - Bertarelli

69 - S. Nazaro in Brolo

72 - Cardinal Ferrari

97 - Molino delle Armi

We inform you that in order to allow the redevelopment works that will interest Beccaria square, from Monday June 27^th the station number 50 Beccaria will be closed.

We will notify you when the station will be restored.

We apologize for any inconvenience and we invite you to use the following adjacent stations:

-    102 Arcivescovado

-    1 Duomo

-    64 Diaz

-    49 Meda

-    42 San Pietro all’orto

-    2 San Babila

-    9 Piazza S. Stefano

BikeMi presents the world’s first integrated Bike sharing system for adults and children.

Junior BikeMi is a Bike sharing service dedicated to children, but is completely integrated with the traditional BikeMi service. At a single station, it’s possible to choose between classic bicycles, electric bicycles and children’s bicycles.

All BikeMi subscriptions, whether annual, weekly or daily, are authorised to use the Junior BikeMi service. Only BikeMi members aged between 16 and 18 are not allowed to use the service, as they are themselves minors and are therefore unauthorised to take on third party liability. The service is also unavailable to members who have not yet accepted the new contractual terms and conditions, introduced in May 2015. For further information on how to accept these terms and conditions, please refer to the relative news item available on this website: /it/media/eventi-news/news.aspx#nuovo-bikemi-istruzioni-per-luso-14149

With just one subscription, it’s possible to take out up to 3 children’s bikes, in addition to an adult bike. The member may also decide to only take out children’s bikes, without taking an adult bicycle.

Junior BikeMi bicycles can be used by children aged between 6 and 10 and who weigh less than 40 kg.

Junior BikeMi is available as an integrated service at certain BikeMi stations already present in the city. It’s possible to take the yellow children’s bikes directly from the pillars in the stations, which have specially-equipped racks to house Junior BikeMi bicycles.

Junior BikeMi stations are located near to a number of urban parks.  Here is the detailed list of where to find them:

Taking out and returning Junior BikeMi bicycles is subject to the standard regulations of the service. The member simply selects which bike and how many children’s bicycles they want to take out, directly from the options present on the monitor of the stations that offer this service.

PLEASE NOTE: Children’s bicycles may only be returned to their dedicated racks, which are specifically labelled ‘Junior BikeMi’.

If a children’s bicycle is returned to a rack that is not authorised for the Junior BikeMi service, the system will register an error and charge a penalty to the member’s account. If the member is charged three penalties, their subscription will be automatically cancelled.

Junior BikeMi has all the same terms and conditions of use as the traditional service. The only difference is how much it costs to use the service:

€ 1 for the first 2 hours

€ 1 for each subsequent hour or part of an hour

for each bike taken out.

How to take out the Junior bikes:

- the member passes their card over the reader (yearly subscription) or types in their personal codes (weekly or daily subscription)

- the member then selects the type of bicycles they want to take out (Junior)

- the system displays the rack number where the member can take the children’s bike from

- to take out another bike (up to a maximum of 3), this procedure must be repeated (passing the member’s card or typing in their personal codes) for each bicycle taken out.

COMPULSORY USE OF A HELMET FOR CHILDREN

The member is responsible for the safety of the children using the bikes and is under the obligation to make them wear a helmet.

For further information, please refer to the General Contract for the service, available from the Download section of this website.

From April it's possible to cycle with BikeMi during the night.

The extension of the Bike sharing service during the night will start on Friday, April 1^st and will end on Tuesday, November 2^nd, 2016:
 
- from Sunday to Thursday inclusive, stations will be active from 07.00 am to 2.00 am at night.
- Friday and Saturday, the service will operate 24 hours a day.

 
Exceptionally, from April 12^th to 17^th inclusive, the service will be open 24 hours a day on the occasion of the Salone del Mobile.

The post-Expo Milano city will not go to bed early, thanks to two important news about mobility: BikeMi extends winter hours with one more hour of service, from midnight to 1 am, and night buses will still operate 7 days a week, until at least New Year’s Day.

BikeMi has launched in Milan the first example in the world of an integrated Bike sharing system between traditional and electrical bicycles, unique in terms of size, complexity and innovation.

By subscribing to BikeMi you will be able to use both traditional bikes and pedelecs (Pedal Electric Cycle) at any of the docking stations. Depending on the type of the bike you choose, only tariffs conditions change.

Subscription types and costs

Annual (365 days) € 36.00

Weekly (7 days) € 9.00

Daily (24 hours) € 4.50

Usage tariffs

The electric bicycles have different usage tariffs than those applied to the traditional ones.
In fact, only for the electric bikes, the first half hour is NOT free but it costs € 0.25.
The tariffs increase then progressively.

The bicycle has to be used to reach a destination and returned after that to be at disposal for the other users.
So it's possible to use the service many times during the day, but paying attention to return the bike maximum after 2 hours per trip in order to make it at disposal to the others.

Maximum consecutive bicycle use is 2 hours.

Service is automatically suspended if you exceed this time limit 3 times.

A € 150 penalty, besides the estimated supplements, will be charged to your credit card if the bicycle is not returned within 24 hours of its taking from the station.

Another bicycle cannot be picked up until the first is returned and 5 minutes have elapsed since return. 

How to pick up and return your bike

Every BikeMi station is equipped with a touch screen that allows you to interact in 10 languages.

How to pick up your bike
1. Type in your user code + OK and password + OK or place your card in front of the reader.
2. Choose the type of the bike you want to use between traditional and electric.
3. Take the bike from the slot number displayed on the screen.
4. Make a check of the main components of the bike and, if everything is okay, leave! Otherwise, hook up again the bike within three minutes and pick up another one.

How to return your bike
1. Find a free hook with the green light on.
2. Hook the bike to the rack. When the green light remains on, the operation is done successfully.
3. Try to lift the bike to make sure it’s hooked up correctly.
4. To make sure that the operation is successful, type in your codes or bring your card closer to the reader. The screen will display a message of return.
5. You will also receive an email with all the data for every use. Please keep it as a receipt.

BEWARE OF THEFT!

Make sure you have returned your bike correctly. Never leave it in the streets! Remember that you are responsible for it!

How to control charges

In the Customer Area of this website you can monitor your usages and charges.
You just need to log in with your user code and password.
In the "Historical" section you can see all the usages and costs.
In the "Charges" section you can see the transactions that will be charged, accompanied by a summary document.

BikeMi is also Social!

With spring and summer, the long-awaited BikeMi by night is back, with some important news!
 
The extension of the Milanese Bike sharing service during the night will start on Wednesday, April 1^st and will end on Sunday, November 2^nd, 2015:
 
- from Sunday to Thursday inclusive, stations will be active from 07.00 am to 2.00 am at night.
- Friday and Saturday, the service will operate 24 hours a day.

 
Exceptionally, from April 14^th to 19^th inclusive, the service will be open 24 hours a day on the occasion of the Salone del Mobile.

BikeMi by night is back!

From April 8th to November 1st BikeMi stations will be operational every day until 2 a.m.

Exceptionally, on the occasion of the Salone del Mobile, on April 11th and 12th the service will be available 24 hours a day.

The first yellow bike was picked up at 7:12 in the morning of December 3rd 2008. Since then BikeMi has grown exponentially, as highlighted by the number of bike uses, that increased of 155% between 2009 and 2013: in the last five years BikeMi have registered from 702,599 to 1,789,959 uses per year.

Today BikeMi counts 3,370 bicycles, 24,478 annual users (+97.5% compared to 2009) and 43,292 temporary subscriptions (+210.5 % compared to 2009).

To celebrate this important birthday, beginning from last night, the new BikeMi website is online with many new features, such as the Mobile version, the new map with more detailed information about the availability of the bikes at the stations (stations with more or less than 5 available bikes, availability of free slots, station without bikes or non-operating), the ability to simultaneously register to more than one temporary subscription with the same credit card on the same registration page.

In addition, new pages have been inserted, such as the Downloads one, where you can download different useful documents (such as BikeMi map, Users contract, etc.), or the one with the weather forecast.

Finally, in the occasion of the launch of the new website and to celebrate St. Ambrose with the Milanese, BikeMi launches a special offer valid on December 7th and 8th: new annual subscriptions registered in these two days will cost 26 € (instead of 36 €).

Click here to download the historical data of BikeMi and the images of the new website.

City of Milan Press release

Starting from November 3rd BikeMi service will be available from 7.00 am to midnight.

Outside these times, you will be allowed to return a bike only, but not pick one up.

Beginning from July 4th, 2013 at 7.00 am Milan Bike sharing users can count on a new station:
 
- Station No. 211 Bernini-Fucini
 
This single-faced station, equipped with 27 slots, brings to 185 the number of BikeMi active stations and to 3,280 the bicycles in circulation.

Beginning from June 17, 2013 at 7.00 am Milan Bike sharing users can count on a new station:

- Station No. 117 Bacone-Monteverdi

This single-faced station, equipped with 36 slots, brings to 184 the number of BikeMi active stations and to 3,260 the bicycles in circulation.

Starting from May 31st at 7.00 am Milan Bike sharing users can count on 3 new stations!

- N. 158 Naviglio Grande - Valenza

- N. 212 Verrocchio - Juvara

- N. 213 Novelli - Carnaghi

All single-faced stations, N. 158 is equipped with 33 slots, the others are equipped with 36 slots.
BikeMi reaches 183 stations and a total of 3,240 bicycles in circulation.

Beginning from February 16th at 7.00 am Milan Bike sharing users can count on a new station.
Station No. 169 Vesuvio-Lipari has been installed in Piazza Vesuvio, at number 6.
This single-faced station, equipped with 36 slots, brings to 174 the number of BikeMi active stations and to 3,033 the bicycles in circulation.

Bike Channel, the first channel dedicated to all fans: for professionals, cycle amateurs or just people interested of bicycle world

On Sky channel 237, beginning from February 12, 2013, BIKE CHANNEL, the first channel dedicated to all fans of cycling (professionals, cycle amateurs or just people interested of bicycle world) will be on the air. Original Italian format, on air 24 hours a day with local and international productions, BIKE CHANNEL caters to 25 millions people that every day in Italy choose bicycle, driven by passion, by the desire to discover, by competitive spirit or simple search of wellbeing. "Il ciclismo siamo noi (Cycling is us)" is the pay-off that encompasses the philosophy of the channel, in which the bicycle has become synonymous with style, creativity and fashion, to make this discipline an aspirational sport but, at the same time, accessible to everyone. A thematic channel with the aim to give back elegance and beauty to this historic sport, bringing to light the original dimension of cycling, made of epic feats, suffering, but also of extreme joy and beauty with reports, stories, anecdotes and episodes told with simplicity and passion through the voices of the protagonists. BIKE CHANNEL has a schedule that is structured in three main areas: PROFESSIONALISM, with highlights, recorded competitions and in-depth analyses edited by a team of ex-professionals; TRAINEES, with fascinating reports and in-depth analyses on major sporting events and with special behind-the scenes goings-on (Marathons, Amateur Competitions, Cycling); CYCLO-CREATIVITY, a collection of videos, documentaries, short films, news and trends from Italy and the rest of the world.

Source: www.corrieredellosport.it

M5 is the first fully automated underground in the city and it will move people in a safe, eco-friendly and easy way from Bignami to San Siro, through Quartiere Isola, Garibaldi railway station, Monumental Cemetery, CityLife...

From February 10th you can travel on the first section: 7 stops along 4.1 kilometers, to go from Bignami to Zara in just 8 minutes. It will then be easier to reach important spots of our city, as Bicocca University, C.T.O. or Niguarda hospital, thanks to the interchange with the M3 line in Zara.
 
The M5 is one of the most up-to-date undergrounds in Europe, thanks to its driverless system. It's designed and manufactured according to the latest European rules to ensure passengers the highest standards of safety.
 
Initially, lilac new line trains will run every 6 minutes with a transport capacity of 5,000 passengers per hour.
 
Welcome M5!

The expansion of the most ecological public trasport service of the city is going on.
On February 1st from 7:00 a.m., BikeMi will put into operation three new stations:

150 Sraffa at 13 street number of Via Castelbarco
152 S. Gottardo-Gentilino at 1-5 street numbers of Via Gentilino
206 Friuli at 50 street number of via Friuli

These big and single-faced stations, equipped with 36 slots, bring to 173 BikeMi active stations park and to more than 3,000 available bicycles.

From USA to China, the Bike sharing system reaches more and more sensational goals
 
Bike sharing conquers the world
by Renato Scialpi on 29/01/2013

Even in too car-friendly oriented areas, Bike sharing is being a boundless success. So much that even Washington is at the top of the list in the United States. And the European leadership firmly belongs to Vélib', the Parisian system, with more than 20 thousands bicycles.
 
College campuses on both coasts of the United States contend for Bike sharing authorship. In fact, the idea comes from Great Britain, where both Oxford and Cambridge, the two University rival citadels, made cycle the backbone of mobility. But the first real bike sharing with registered users, in truth, was born in Lyon with Velo'v. At the end of the nineties, in fact, the public transport review plan was based on a tramway as strength line, supported by a proximity's mobility provided by racks for "public" bicycles at stops.
 
History apart, the bike sharing is enjoying a success that goes beyond the most optimistic perspective. Even in parts of the world and cities where you would not immediately think of this kind of mobility model. In fact, it is not surprising that the larger system at the moment is Hangzhou's - a Chinese city of 2.6 millions inhabitants that maybe one Italian out of a hundred can place it on a map - which boasts 61 thousands bicycles and over 2400 racks. Everything is controlled by a computerized system of course, but as far as numbers and technology, China ceased to be news some time ago.
 
At the second place of the world list - and this may be a surprise - there's Paris, a city that despite the ubiquity of the metro network and a too "car- oriented" road system, it has discovered an unquenchable desire to bicycle. Vélib' system already has 1450 stations and provides more than 20 thousands bikes. And if you have a look to the national data, France holds the record number of the cities equipped with bike sharing (29), followed by Spain (25) China (19) Italy (19) and Germany (5), results that may seem paradoxical, compared to the spread of bicycles in Germany and then in the Nordic countries, but in fact very logical: the presence of cycle paths, the availability of patrolled racks and areas for decades have promoted the ownership of private bicycles and bike sharing seems almost a whim for nerds.

Perhaps even more unexpected it's the success of bike sharing in the U.S., home of "car way of life". In these days Capital Bikeshare, Washington DC's system, has even won the title of best bike sharing in the country, awarded by the specialist newspaper Bicycling. And its promoters - in deep American spirit - are proud to be a private company that, albeit with some government grants, has a business plan that will allow them to expand in the coming years regardless of the advertising revenue (in Europe all systems live on sponsorships and on sell of adv spaces) and of any Municipality's disbursement.
After reporting that Melbourne has seen the birth of its bike sharing too, it's worth pointing out that in Italy the queen of the sector is just Milan, whose service "BikeMi" was born in 2008 and now it can count on more than three thousand bikes (3,010 with 173 stations to be precise). In fact the goal of the next months is getting to exceed 3,650 bikes and 200 stations, currently situated in the most central part of Lombardy's capital.
 
Source www.touringmagazine.it
 
29/01/2013

With the opening of the last new BikeMi stations, nr 174 Vercelli-Piemonte and nr 176 Buonarroti, Milan reaches a total amount of 166 BikeMi stations. This implementation points up how Milan is promoting the ecological mobility each day more and it is becoming a really European city easy to visit by bike.

DAILY AND WEEKLY PASSES
How to subscribe to BiKeMi
• go to WAP message to wap.bikemi.it, or send an SMS to +39 348 6832679 to receive the link directly on your cell phone. (see below)
• call the toll-free number 800.80.81.81
• ATM Point (Duomo, Cadorna, Centrale FS, Garibaldi FS, Romolo, Loreto)
• visit the website www.bikemi.it

Costs
• weekly (7 days) € 6,00
• daily (24 hours) € 2,50
Payment by credit card only.

Instructions
Once you have subscribed, you will immediately receive by SMS or mail a user code and the password you chose during registration, at which point you can access the service.

How to take your bike
On the bike station keyboard, enter your:
user code (****) +“Conv” key
password (****) +“Conv” key
The display on the column will indicate the number of the parking slot of your bike.
Remove it carefully from the slot, and off you go!
Remember: never leave the bike unattended!

How to return your bike
1 Find a free slot on the bike rack and make sure the green light is on.
2 Insert the bike into the rack.
3 The green light will blink for 4 seconds. When it stops, the operation is complete.
4 Make sure that the bike is well secured (if not, the led will continue to blink).
If the bike station is full, insert your user code and password into the keyboard on the column to find the nearest bike station. You will receive an additional 15 minutes to reach the other station.
Returning your bike properly requires only a few seconds and saves you additional costs.

WAP
How does one use a WAP site?
To use WAP services, you need a GSM device and any pre-paid phone card or subscription with an Italian provider - (Vodafone, Tim, Wind or 3 (H3g) - or a provider from your own country.
Before accessing WAP services, your cell phone must be properly configured with an internet browser, depending on the model.

To the foreigner exhibitors and visitors that will be in Milan on the occasion of the 48th Edition of "Saloni", the most relevant design event in the City, BikeMi has dedicated them two appealing services:

For any further information about subscriptions, stations and terms of use please visit "Service Information", "Stations map" and "Users area" pages on this website.

WEEKLY and DAILY subscriptions are finally ON!

How to subscribe
- on this website www.bikemi.it
- calling Toll-free number 800.80.81.81
- at ATM Points (Duomo, Cadorna, Centrale FS, Loreto, Romolo)
- on wap.bikemi.it
You can also send an SMS to +39 348 6832679 to receive the link to wap.bikemi.it

Rates
daily (24 h): € 2,50
weekly (7 days): € 6,00

How they work:
You will receive, via mail or via sms, a user code and the password chosen during registration.

How to take the bike:
On station's keypad enter:
your user code + press "Conv"
your password + press "Conv"

How to return the bike:
Lock the bike on a slot at any BikeMi station.
To verify the correct lock, please enter your user code and your password on the keypad again.