How It Works - The Automated CityByke Cycle Share Solution

citybyke has developed a dynamic and unique public cycle hire scheme to help meet the existing and future needs of mobility around our cities.

A network of citybykes are publicly available and located at what we call "docking stations" (a kiosk and several cycle docking posts). Each bike is individually secured by way of an innovative and patent pending docking post. The bikes are easily secured and released by authorised members who will be issued with a card from a kiosk at each station and PIN code.

Member sign up process -

• Daily or weekly members join the scheme at one of the central kiosks at each docking station. This is a simple process that requires credit or debit card payment and asks you to create a 4 PIN Membership Number. Once authorised you will be issued with a paper membership card with bar code.
• As a member you swipe your membership card next to a docking post which has a bike adjacent. Then you will be prompted to enter your Membership PIN Number. Once authorised the bike can be removed. This bike is then "paired" to you as a member. The system will automatically log the time, date and location of the removal of the bike.
• When you reach your final destination, you simply re-dock the bike and the system is automatically updated that the bike has been returned ready for the next member.

Potential members looking to create an annual membership can do so online, a membership card will be posted to you.

For security purposes citybyke will take a security deposit to part cover the cost of a stolen or damaged bike.

Membership fees within the UK
Daily - from £2.00 per day for day of rental
Weekly - from £7.00 per week for week of rental
Annual - from £50.00 per annum

The first one hours usage is free, thereafter the charge is £3.00 per hour or part thereof. Please note that these are indicative prices and may vary at different cities. A deposit will be required to secure the value of the bikes.

Bike Management, Payment Processing and Kiosks
Billing systems, payment kiosks and call centre support functions are managed by our Partnering Organisation -Shere Ltd. Their role within the team is to provide a simple and effective support infrastructure for the system and its Members (kiosk, docking post, asset management etc). More information about Shere can be found at www.shere.com.

Shere a UK based company is a supplier of high quality Self Service and desktop transactional systems to the travel and leisure industries. The company provides a full service including consultancy, design, development (software and hardware), manufacture, implementation and support. Customers include Virgin, NXEC, Southern, Whitbread etc. Notably, Shere supplies Self Service ticketing systems to London Overground and DLR.

Currently, Shere has more than 1,000 automated ticketing terminals installed in the UK processing around £100 million per month in cash and card payments. Shere processes 5.5 million payments through its self service terminals per month.

Shere's support service delivers 20 hour per day, 7 day per week support and achieves better than 99.7% availability for its complex cash and card service.

Over the past 18 months, Shere has designed and developed a kiosk and docking post solution for citybyke incorporating a flexible approach to software and hardware design. With input from and consultation with many stakeholders Shere has delivered a high quality solution that can meet and exceed the expectations of cycle hire schemes.

Billing systems and memberships can be adapted to suit individual locations and needs.

Kiosks can be designed to suit locations and help ensure a blend with existing street furniture. Please see below.