In addition to its bus service, WestVerkehr GmbH intends to set up a bicycle rental system (FVS) in the Heinsberg district. She sees this as an opportunity to further enhance and round off the public transport it operates for the benefit of her passengers and to expand her own capabilities and competencies into a multimodal public transport provider. In the area of bicycle rental, a cooperation with an experienced partner in this area is to be entered into for the construction and initial operation of the FVS. In this context, services are awarded by west (client) to system suppliers (contractors).

WestVerkehr GmbH is a municipal transport company in the district of Heinsberg. The company, also known as “west”, was founded at the end of 2014. As a member of the Aachen Transport Association (AVV), West operates local public transport in the Heinsberg district and supplies a 990km route network with around 130 of its own and 75 other buses from contract companies.

In addition to its bus service, WestVerkehr GmbH intends to set up a bicycle rental system (FVS) in the Heinsberg district. She sees this as an opportunity to further enhance and round off the public transport it operates for the benefit of her passengers and to expand her own capabilities and competencies into a multimodal public transport provider. In the area of bicycle rental, a cooperation with an experienced partner in this area is to be entered into for the construction and initial operation of the FVS. In this context, services are awarded by west (client) to system suppliers (contractors).

West defines the appearance of the FVS (system name, registration process, website, APP publication). The contractor brings the necessary infrastructure components, such as rental bicycles, rental pedelecs, system bicycle racks, station signs and charging technology, into the cooperation and transfers ownership of the components introduced to West for a fee. West is also responsible for all maintenance, repair and cleaning work.

The contractor sets up the bicycle rental stations and integrates the FVS into its “back office system”, which is used to handle operating and booking processes and payments as well as customer communication. All rental and payment transactions relating to the FVS are to be processed through this.

As part of the contract execution, west will commission at least the following quantities:

- 100 conventional bicycles;

- 25 pieces of pedelecs;

- 5 charging stations for pedelecs;

- 15 rental stations with signage.

If required, the client can order additional bicycles, pedelecs and station equipment.