You would have undoubtedly seen the various stations where you can enjoy bike sharing Singapore services with the rows of blue and green bicycles available for rent. Bike sharing services in Singapore make it easy and convenient to take micro journeys around the neighbourhood and are also a great way to get on two wheels to explore the Park Connector Networks and more.
Bike Sharing Services in Singapore
After the previous hullabaloo around the first generation of bike sharing services, which made a dramatic exit from Singapore, a new set of bike sharing companies have made bicycles available for rental all around Singapore.
HelloRide and Anywheel are the two bike sharing companies are making fast and easy rental of two wheels available in Singapore.
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The bikes available make it easy for both locals and overseas visitors to be able to make use of bicycles on a casual basis. Whether the bike is needed for a quick ride to the shops to run some errands, or as a means of transportation to get around and explore the surroundings, HelloRide and Anywheel’s near-ubiquitous bikes make cycling a convenient option.
How to Use the Bike Sharing Rental Service in Singapore
HelloRide and Anywheel both offer bike rentals that go by blocks of time.
You can rent the bike for blocks of half-and-hour and the process is completely self-serve via the HelloRide and Anywheel apps.
Here’s a look at how to make use of the bike sharing rental service and apps.
HelloRide Bike Sharing
HelloRide’s bicycles are the ones in blue. You will find them park at designated bike bays that are demarcated via a yellow box.
To make use of HelloRide, you will find need to download the HelloRide app. From within the app, you can find the closest bike bay, which is marked out with a P in a circle, and if there are any bikes available there.
If this is your first time using the app, you will need to verify your mobile number or email to become a registered user.
From within the app, click on the blue “Scan Code to Ride” button. This will allow you to scan the QR code that is located the HelloRide handlebars. Then it will give you the rate and ask if you would like to “Confirm to Unlock” to proceed.
Once you have confirmed that you understand the rental rate, it will unlock the lock that secures the rear wheel of the bike and you can start to use it.
To return the bike, park it within any yellow bicycle bay. It does not need to be the one that you originally took the bike from.
Once the bike has been parked, you can use the app to indicate that you wish to finish your rental. This will trigger the lock to lock up the bike.
You will then be prompted to scan the QR code of the bike bay.
By scanning the QR code, confirms that the bike has been returned to a proper designated location.
HelloRide is a post-paid service. This means that after riding, you will then be prompted to make payment for the duration you have used the bike for. Payment can be done via means such as credit card, Apple and Google Pay, and others.
The rates for a single-rider HelloRide bike is $1 for 30 minutes and 50 cents for every 10 minutes after that.
HelloRide Bikes
HelloRide’s blue bicycles have a few characteristics that you will also find on Anywheel bicycles.
The bike’s frame is similar to a lady’s bike, i.e. it does not have a centre bar between the seat and the handlebars. This makes it easy to mount the bicycle.
There is a basket at the front of the bike, which can be a convenient place to stow away a bag.
The height of the seat can be adjusted for comfort. This can be done by releasing the lever under the seat and raising or lowering it to your desired height.
On the right handlebar grip, you will find a bell that can be rung by twisting it.
The bike only has one gear and you cannot shift it up or down. However, from our experience, the gear is good enough for casual cycling.
Here is one difference between HelloRide and Anywheel. In addition to regular single bicycles, HelloRide also has family bikes. This style of bike has an extra seat for a child. The child can be strapped in using the seatbelts. These family bikes are more expensive (and also heavier) than the single-rider bikes.
Anywheel Bike Sharing App and Bicycles
Anywheel’s bike sharing service is also controlled via an app. However, there are some difference between Anywheel and HelloRide.
Just like HelloRide, you will need to use the Anywheel app to unlock the bike by scanning the QR code on the handlebars.
However, unlike HelloRide, Anywheel is a pre-paid service. This means that you will need to buy credits before you can make use of the Anywheel bikes. The minimum amount of credit is $10.
Once you have scanned the QR code and chosen to rent the bike, the app will start to unlock the bike.
The red lever on the lock at the rear wheel will rise up, unlocking the bike.
Another difference between Anywheel and HelloRide bikes is the seat height adjustment mechanism. While HelloRide’s seat post release lever is broad can be flipped up, the Anywheel lever is more like a traditional bike seat post release lever, which we find relatively harder to use.
Lastly, when returning the Anywheel bike, you will also need to return it a bike bay. Then to end the ride, you will need to slide down the red lever on the lock at the rear wheel of the bike.
Then after scanning the bike bay’s QR code, the ride would have ended.
Using the Bike Sharing Services in Singapore
Both HelloRide and Anywheel are great and convenient bike rental services and make it easy to use bikes for both micro-journeys as well as longer explorations on two wheels.
However, while most of times, you can find bikes that are ride-worthy, at time, you may find some of the bikes are not in as good condition. However, using the apps, you can try to locate other suitable bikes close by.
One other tip that we have is to bring along some wet wipes in case the bikes need to be cleaned up a bit – after all they are left out in all types of weather and there can sometimes even be rubbish left behind.
Nonetheless, we personally enjoy the convenience of having bike sharing services in Singapore and they are great for casual, everyday use.
