Number of shared bikes on Helsinki streets triples

Yellow city bikes appeared on the streets of Helsinki on Tuesday, kicking off this year's six-month season of the public transport instrument.

According to the city of Helsinki, during the 2017 city bike season, there will be 1,500 bikes in circulation available to both locals and visitors at 150 bike stations in the capital area.

Both the numbers of bikes and stations have tripled this year. In summer 2016, there were only 500 bikes and 50 stations around Helsinki.

The city bikes are shared-use bicycles that can be rented temporarily. A daily or weekly or seasonal pass is needed to pick up a bicycle at a station. A bike can be used for no more than 30 minutes each time, and any prolonged usage would be charged with an extra price.

"It was convenient, and the price is not expensive," said cyclist Kaspian, who had just finished his journey to his friend's and returned the bicycle to a station near the market square in southern Helsinki.

The history of city bike system in Helsinki could be traced back to the year 2000. It was operated consecutively for ten years until 2010, when it was discontinued due to funding problems.

The system resumed in May 2016 with a successful trial.