Smart Bikes: Public Transportation for the 21st Century

Bicycles are not commonly thought of as a form of public transportation, however this concept is being successfully challenged throughout the world with Public-Use Bicycles (PUBs). The introduction of the smartcard to the PUB concept has created the “Smart Bike” and set the bicycle on the path of becoming revolutionary to urban public transportation systems throughout the world. This paper will explain the PUB concept, examine a PUB, and discuss the present and planned applications of the Smart Bike.