Ecovolis (a portmanteau of Eco (from Greek: οἶκος, "house"; -λογία, "study of") and volō: from Latin nglish: fly was a community based

bike sharing A bicycle-sharing system, bike share program, public bicycle scheme, or public bike share (PBS) scheme, is a shared transport service where bicycles are available for shared use by individuals at low cost. The programmes themselves include bot ...

program in

Tirana Tirana ( , ; aln, Tirona) is the capital and largest city of Albania. It is located in the centre of the country, enclosed by mountains and hills with Dajti rising to the east and a slight valley to the northwest overlooking the Adriatic Sea ...

Albania Albania ( ; sq, Shqipëri or ), or , also or . officially the Republic of Albania ( sq, Republika e Shqipërisë), is a country in Southeastern Europe. It is located on the Adriatic and Ionian Seas within the Mediterranean Sea and shares ...

, launched on March 22, 2011, from an environmental NGO called Social Stimulating Alternatives Program (PASS). The system was based on 6 bike stations, respectively staffed by two employees in two shifts. During its time, the Ecovolis program was successful in increasing bicycle use in Tirana.

History

Initially the Tirana Community Bicycle Albania project was supported from PASS organization and the US-based Pedal for Progress organization, which donated 450 bicycles. Sixty of these were used road bikes, which were modified and painted by local technicians to serve as public bikes in the Ecovolis scheme. In 2014, Ecovolis participated in European Mobility Week.

System

Each Ecovolis station was staffed by two employees in two shifts and contains 30 – 60 bicycles. As of 2014, four stations were in operation in Tirana, and about 2000 people were subscribed. In order to use the bicycles, it was required to provide a personal identification document (such as a passport or an ID card) or to subscribe to the Ecovolis membership card. Bicycles were equipped with a front bicycle basket, a behind carrier, a comfortable saddle and a public fender with the Ecovolis sign. The bicycle stations also provided touristic information to the visitors and a list of the city's main attractions. Being a non-profit social enterprise, the program sometimes offered free bicycle service, cycling courses, donations of bicycles and helmets for children in need, bike tours and a bicycle recycle program.

Payment

The program operated in two ways: through membership subscription or a personal identification document (such as passport or ID card). Individuals registered with the program identify themselves with the Ecovolis membership card at any bicycle station. For visitors, the cost was about $1.00 per day. In 2014, Ecovolis allowed users at some of its kiosks to earn credit towards free bicycles use by returning metal cans for recycling."Riciklo dhe pedalo ca kohë falas!"
. ''Shekulu''. Florenc Stafa 12 Tetor 2014,

Theft and Vandalism

From March 22, 2011, when the Ecovolis initiative begun, 80 bicycles have not been returned or have been stolen since this year, i.e. an average 10 bicycles per month or 2.5 a week. During three different phases, the bicycles have been replaced and added to the stations.

References

External links

*http://www.ecovolis.al/ *http://www.pass-al.org/ecovolis.html {{Webarchive, url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170627182946/http://pass-al.org/ecovolis.html , date=2017-06-27 Bicycle sharing in Albania