Santo Domingo.- The National Institute of Transit and Land Transportation (Intrant) has unveiled the technical, legal, and financial framework for the implementation of the Greater Santo Domingo Public Bicycle System (SBP), as part of the efforts to support the Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan of Greater Santo Domingo (Aipmus).
The program entails a public transportation system based on bike sharing, where users can borrow a bicycle for their journey and return it to a designated station near their destination, as explained by Intrant in a statement.
The initial stage of the project will focus on the National District and Santo Domingo Este, with over 200 stations and approximately 2,000 electric and mechanical bicycles. The procurement process for the system will be managed by Intrant through a bidding process.
The presentation of the project was led by Javier Cantarella from the Argentine consulting company AC&A. Its main objective is to conduct the necessary technical, legal, and financial studies for the Public Bicycle System (SBP) in Greater Santo Domingo. This includes identifying a viable business model and determining financing sources.
To develop the project, socialization meetings were held with various stakeholders, including mayors, interest groups, and bicycle users. These consultations aimed to understand the demand, select the coverage area and determine the locations for the bicycle stations.
Hugo Beras, the Executive Director of Intrant, highlighted the importance of bicycles as a sustainable means of transportation, emphasizing their role beyond exercise. He stated that embracing this initiative is crucial for the environment, and the government is committed to leading the country in this process as part of the Urban Mobility Plan.
Beras also mentioned that Intrant, in collaboration with the French Development Agency (AFD) and the European Union (EU), is working towards launching the project and demonstrating the profitability of this transportation mode for those who wish to participate in the system.
Juan Pablo Bocarejo, Director of the Greater Santo Domingo Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan (Aipmus), expressed their commitment to building a sustainable mobility network where bicycles play a prominent role in the city’s transportation system.
Lionel Franceschini, Mission Manager of the French Development Agency (AFD), highlighted the importance of initiatives like this in promoting alternative modes of transportation.