Brno allows cyclists to rent bikes for free

They can ride a shared bicycle without being charged for 30 minutes, twice a day

This year, the Czech City of Brno is the general partner of the annual national competition Bike to Work (Do práce na kole). To encourage its citizens to lead a healthier lifestyle and make it easier for them to compete in this contest, the municipality will now allow residents to rent a shared bike for free for 30 minutes, twice a day.

Bike to Work

The national cycling competition invites residents to ditch their cars and travel to work in a more active way. Participating individually or in teams of up to 5 people, cyclists from all over the country will compete to cover as many kilometres as possible in May.

“Not everyone has the opportunity to use their own bike, so there is bike-sharing. In order to not only promote shared travel but also to promote bicycle transport in general, we are introducing the possibility of renting a bicycle twice a day for half an hour free of charge from today [11 April], in cooperation with Nextbike and Rekola,” shared the Mayor of Brno, Markéta Vaňková.

The mayor went further, explaining that according to research, trips within the city typically take up to 15 minutes. Therefore, 30 minutes should be more than enough time for one to reach their desired destination and find a suitable place to park.

To use the free service, one must download the mobile application of the bicycle sharing provider and register. Proceeding as they would with a normal rental, cyclists can then use the bike for 30 minutes without being charged. If they wish to make a longer journey, they will only have to pay the difference at the end of their ride. 

It is important to note that the new opportunity will not only benefit Brno’s residents but also the municipality itself as it will obtain vital information regarding the cycling habits of its citizens. Using its findings, the Czech city will then be able to improve its cycling infrastructure.