RFID helps urban bike rental systems work

Quick and easy access to public bikes – and often the metro, too.

Urban bicycle-sharing services are really taking off: At the end of 2010, more than 235 cities around the world had a bike-sharing system already in place – that's almost double the quantity from the previous year.

RFID plays a key role in almost all of these systems. There are typically two different ways to access a bicycle: via credit card for occasional rentals, or using a subscription card for more frequent users. It's these subscription cards that take advantage of RFID, allowing their users to simply wave their pass in front of a kiosk to instantly release a bike from the locked rack.

In many cities, these RFID-enabled bike rental cards can be combined with RFID-enabled public transportation subscription cards that provide access to the metro and bus network.

RFID can help bicycling enthusiasts in other ways, too. Read here about how RFID can help prevent bicycle theft, and make urban biking safer for consumers by alerting them about approaching cars and truck.