The new generation of public bicycles put into use in Qidong, Nantong, East China’s Jiangsu province. [Photo/Qidongnews]

The public bicycle service center of Qidong, a county-level city in Nantong, East China’s Jiangsu province, sent 1,600 new public bicycles to the city’s 91 rental spots on Nov 5.

Firstly put into use five years ago, the public bicycles have provided lots of help and support for citizens. To better serve people, the local government asked for the all-round upgrading and transformation of the old bicycles. 

After four months of surveying and research, the new generation of public bicycles were introduced into the system. Besides swiping cards, there are now also smart locks that can be lent and returned through scanning a QR code. What’s more, the new bicycles are easy to ride as they are made of stainless steel, less likely to rust and lighter.

The public bicycle system is an important part of the city’s environmental protection and a convenient service for citizens. Fifteen new public bicycle rental spots have been set up this year, and the number of new public bicycles increased by 200.