The technology behind Hourbike’s bike sharing product is a latest generation system that has been
developed specifically for the automated management of large numbers of bicycles in a public service.
This builds on 10 years of production and development, and is currently in use managing approx. 2000
bikes in in UK, including Liverpool, Reading, Oxford, Northampton, Lincoln, Sheffield, Southport, Dumfries
as well as across the EU.
The product has three distinct components :
• The rental system
• Physical stand infrastructure
• Bikes
Each of which can be purchased separately or as a pre-integrated system.
Rental System
The Rental System is the collection of electronic components that lock the bikes to a bike-station with
smart locks and control the rental process. They are modular and have standard fixings to allow them to
be installed in a number of ways to suit the local environment. The stations provide excellent visibility and
marketing opportunities, the electronic assets are secure and bikes are therefore simpler and lower cost
to maintain.
A processor unit is supplied which contains with the power supply, computer, modem and
associated electronics necessary to power the station. This is contained in an alloy frame, with a
lockable cover with options for a full kiosk style totem, or mini-totem.
For pedal bike operation, two large capacity batteries supply power to the unit, charged by a solar
panel. This provides year round power. The unit must be mains supplied for e-bike operation.
A console (keypad) provides the user interface.
This has a screen for user instruction, a touch sensitive keypad
with no moving parts which is also back lit, a power button and
the smart card proximity reader (Hi-tag or Mifare)
The console can provide 6 different user selected languages
(roman alphabet only). All the menu items can be rewritten in a
local language using standard XML language files.
Hourbike
OPERATING BIKE SHARING SCHEMES ACROSS THE UK
