Tour Sharjah on a bike

Sharjah: When was the last time you cycled? If it’s been a long time, you now have the chance to tour Sharjah on a bike.

Sharjah is offering a 24-hour service that allows residents to rent a bicycle from any of the four Byky stations across the city.

The bicycle service, which was introduced recently, aims to give residents the option of using bicycles as a healthy and fun mode of transportation.

The four official bicycle terminals in Sharjah are located at Khalid Lakes, Mamzar, Al Majaz and Buhairah Corniche.

To rent a bike, residents must first register by signing up online at bykystations.com or by calling the hotline number 800 3330 and providing their personal details such as name, address, mobile number, and credit card information. Once registered as a member, you can rent a bike by simply entering your phone number, member PIN code and the number of the bike you want to ride. You will then receive an SMS with a code to open the combination lock of that specific bike. You also have the option of registering at the terminal and using their credit card as a payment method. You can rent up to four bicycles at the same time on one account.

Looking to use the service soon, Sharjah resident Sarah Abdulla from Egypt said she is happy to see the rent-a-bike concept make its way to Sharjah. “Back in my home country, in beach areas we can rent bikes to cycle on the Corniche and this reminds me of it, so I am excited to try it out,“ said Sarah. The 21-year-old university student said that the service will help introduce the culture of cycling to Sharjah and will encourage people to exercise.

Another resident, Hana Khalid from Jordan, said cycling is an activity she has always wanted to do on her weekend, but she has never owned a bike. “It’s nice to have the option available in the city — it’s something I would definitely like to do on a Saturday morning for an hour around Buhairah.“

Bicycles can be rented out for the duration of half an hour up to 24 hours with prices ranging from Dh15-80. Customers must return the bicycle on time at any of the four terminals to avoid being fined. Returning the bicycle at an unofficial station will result in a fine of Dh60 per 10km, while not locking the bicycle at the station will result in a Dh15 fine. Losing the bicycle will result in a Dh1,500 fine.