Operated by Changzhou Youon Public Bicycle System, public bikes in Heihe started in May 2012 with 1,000 bikes, and developed steadily in the following years.

"People in Heihe have accepted the public bikes," said Cao Lei, deputy manager of the company's Heihe branch. "This green transportation method has motivated more people to start to ride.

"Because the public bikes have immovable racks on which bikes must be locked, there are no users leaving bikes randomly without obeying the regulations, which may cause traffic disorder and unnecessary damage."

The utilization is high, clocking in at more than 30,000 rides in Heihe a day.

In September 2015, the company expanded the business into Blagoveshchensk, less than 1.6 km away across the Heilong River.

"We aim to provide a convenient transportation method for both Chinese and Russian people and deepen friendship," said Niu Hailong, the manager of the company's Blagoveshchensk branch. "The utilization rate is reaching 45 percent in the city, and (the service) is becoming well known by more residents."

There are 131 self-service docking stations on street corners－every 300 meters in Heihe－and 21 in Blagoveshchensk, which can provide 4,180 bikes for more than 20,000 registered users.

After paying an initial deposit, generally about 260 yuan ($40), users can pick up bikes and return them to any docking station.

The first hour is free, rising to roughly 1 yuan an hour thereafter in Heihe, while users pay 10 roubles (17 US cents) for the first hour in Blagoveshchensk.

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