No need to backtrack to return rental bike

Maria Almenoar, Straits Times 10 Mar 09;

A NEW spin on recreational cycling has hit the four connected parks on the East Coast.

Six new bicycle rental kiosks strung out along the bike paths now allow cyclists to pick up and drop off their rented wheels at any of these pit stops.

Bye bye to the need to backtrack to the kiosk from which the bicycle was rented, as is the required practice with bike rental stations now.

The National Parks Board (NParks) awarded the tender to run the new service to Lifestyle Recreation, a company which has been renting out bicycles and in-line skates at the East Coast Park since 2001.

Its kiosks can be found at East Coast Park Area C, East Coast Park Area G, Changi Beach Park Area Car Park 1, Sun Plaza Park, Changi Beach Park Car Park 7 and Telok Kurau Park. Two more may be set up in the Bedok and Pasir Ris town parks.

Rental rates are comparable to other rental outlets in the area - $5 an hour for a bike and $10 an hour for a tandem bicycle. A cyclist needs to produce his or her identity card to rent a bike.

Lifestyle Recreation is also looking into providing an all-day service in which a cyclist picks up a bike and can return it even after the rental stations have closed for the day.

A cyclist who plans on returning the bike late first books and pays for the rental online. A bicycle number and code to the bicycle lock is then sent to him in a text message.

Ms Susanna Tay, Lifestyle Recreation's managing director, said: 'When NParks opened the new park connectors, we knew that cyclists did not want to be restricted on where they could ride, so this is a value-added service we can provide.'

She added that the company may allow the same rental arrangement for in-line skates if there is a demand.

Photographer Alex Wee, 35, who heads to East Coast Park every two months for cycling, is now game to explore the East Coast's four parks.

He said: 'Usually you don't get to cycle far and see much because you have to backtrack to return the bicycle. They should consider having a public transport link at either end as well.'

Rent a bike here, return it there
Today Online 10 Mar 09;

Rent and ride a bicycle along Singapore’s East Coast without having to go back to your starting point. Six rental kiosks have been set up by :Lifestyle Recreation in four parks along the 42-km Eastern Coastal Park Connector Network. Visitors can rent a bike from one and return it at any of the others.

The kiosks are at East Coast Park Area C and G, Changi Beach Park Area Car Park 1, Sun Plaza Park, Changi Beach Park Car Park 7 and Telok Kurau Park. Rates start at $5 an hour for an adult bicycle. Anall-day service is in the pipeline. For details, visitwww.lifestylerecreation.com.sg or call 6443 6675.