Nextbike (New Zealand)
Encyclopedia
Nextbike was a bicycle rental
scheme in New Zealand
, franchised from the German Nextbike
company. It operated in the CBD and central suburbs of Auckland City
until 2010. Due to lack of sufficient advertising revenue, the company ceased operations in that year after failing to win emergency funding from the new Auckland Council
. However, it is expected to make a bid for a newly tendered contract by Council to provide a public bike rental scheme, as the bikes of the scheme are still present in storage.
Unlike some much larger overseas schemes, the rental system has been implemented privately (financed by a combination of rental fees and advertising on the bikes) though it has recently won official sponsorship from the Auckland Regional Transport Authority. It has also been tipped as a method of travel for visiting tourists at the Rugby World Cup 2011.
The company was also involved in promoting three potential 'Great Urban Rides' routes in Auckland, aimed at marketing interesting and convenient bicycle tour routes to tourists and locals, in a city which is often considered to be unattractive to cycling.
Bike rental
A bike rental or bike hire business is a bike shop or other business that rents bikes for short periods of time for a fee...
scheme in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, franchised from the German Nextbike
Nextbike
nextbike is a German company that designs, manufactures and markets products related to bike-sharing. As of 2011 it operates about 10.000 bikes in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Latvia, Poland, New Zealand and Turkey. The biggest implementations of the system in Germany are in Ruhr with 3.000 bikes...
company. It operated in the CBD and central suburbs of Auckland City
Auckland City
Auckland City was the city and local authority covering the Auckland isthmus and most of the islands of the Hauraki Gulf, in the North Island of New Zealand. On 1 November 2010 it was amalgamated into the wider Auckland Region under the authority of the new Auckland Council...
until 2010. Due to lack of sufficient advertising revenue, the company ceased operations in that year after failing to win emergency funding from the new Auckland Council
Auckland Council
The Auckland Council is the council for the Auckland Region in New Zealand. It began operating on 1 November 2010, combining the functions of the existing regional council and the region's seven previous city and district councils into one "super council" or "super city" governed by a mayor, 20...
. However, it is expected to make a bid for a newly tendered contract by Council to provide a public bike rental scheme, as the bikes of the scheme are still present in storage.
History
As of 2009, the bike fleet had grown from 70 to 170. The company notes that during summer, bikes were being ridden about three hours a day, which was higher than the use rate in some European schemes. To encourage use, registered riders also received 30 minutes free use each day.Unlike some much larger overseas schemes, the rental system has been implemented privately (financed by a combination of rental fees and advertising on the bikes) though it has recently won official sponsorship from the Auckland Regional Transport Authority. It has also been tipped as a method of travel for visiting tourists at the Rugby World Cup 2011.
The company was also involved in promoting three potential 'Great Urban Rides' routes in Auckland, aimed at marketing interesting and convenient bicycle tour routes to tourists and locals, in a city which is often considered to be unattractive to cycling.