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Who can use the electric city bikes?
Anyone over the age of 16 can use the electric city bikes. The bicycles are part of our public transport system and can be rented via the Farte Bysykkel app.
How can I use the electric city bikes?
You must first register by downloading the Farte Bysykkel app. Here you register, confirm your phone number, read and accept the terms, add a payment card and choose a subscription form. This takes about 2 minutes. Afterwards, you can borrow a bike straight away in the following way:
- Find the nearest available bike in the app
- Unlock the bike by scanning the QR code on the bike handlebar or rear mudguard
- Check for issues or damage, in particular that the brakes are working before you use it
- Adjust the bicycle seat to the desired height and pedal away! :)
More information about the solution can be found on the website farte.no/bysykkel
How do I return a Farte City Bike?
To end the rental of a city bike, it must be parked in one of Farte Bysykkel's parking zones. These are marked with signs and/or markings on the ground.
How to return the bike:
- Find the nearest parking zone marked in gray in the map in the app
- Park the bicycle within a parking zone
- End the rental in the app, and wait for confirmation in the app that the rental has ended before leaving the bike
You will find an overview of where the parking zones are on the map in the app, and on our website: farte.no/bysykkel
I have problems returning the bike / ending the rental in the parking zone
First try exiting and restarting the app. Please note that you must be within internet coverage and have GPS switched on. When returning, both bicycle and phone must be within the area of a parking zone.
If this still does not work, contact the customer center on 33 74 00 73 or via the contact form in the app.
If the customer center is closed, send us information as soon as possible about what has happened and where the bike is via the contact form in the app or send us an email at bysykkel@vtfk.no. Before leaving the bike, try to secure it or lock it and contact us again the next day. You are responsible for the bike until the rental has ended.
Can I rent the bike in Entur or Vy's app?
No, this service is currently only available in the Farte city bike app.
Price and payment
How much does it cost to rent a city bike
Getting started costs NOK 10 and includes use of the electric city bike for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, it costs 1 kroner per minute, until you reach the cap of 300 kroner, which is the maximum price for the first 12 hours. After 12 hours, the rental price starts again at NOK 1 per minute until you reach a new NOK 300 (for the next 12 new hours) - and so on.
Can I use the bus ticket to rent a Farte City bike or vice versa?
You must download and pay the rent in the Farte Bysykkel app. We are working on combining bus and city bike in the same ticket, but so far they cannot be combined.
Is it safe to use my credit card in the app?
Farte Bysykkel uses a system verified by VISA and MASTERCARD and payments are made via Stripe. It should be just as safe to use the card with us as all other online stores. You can read more about this from our supplier at www.stripe.com
The app is offline - what do I do?
Check that you have coverage where you are – mobile broadband or 4g+. Also check how old your phone is - and whether it's Android or iPhone. Older Androids can experience problems.
You can try the following:
- Try exiting the app first and wait a bit before trying again.
- If necessary, log out and log in again from your profile page.
- Alternatively, you can try to delete the app and download it again.
I have been billed too much - what do I do?
If you believe you have been incorrectly billed, contact customer support via the app or at bysykkel@vtfk.no, or by phone on 33 74 00 73
Can I lock the bike temporarily before continuing to cycle?
Yes, you can. In the app press the "temporarily lock" button. Unlock again by clicking "continue trip".
Remember that you continue to pay rent until you return the bike in a parking zone.
If I pause my cycle ride, do I pay for the time it is paused?
Yes, you will be charged for the rental right up until you end the rental in the app within one of Farte Bysykkel's parking zones.
Can I see my ride time and how much I have to pay?
Yes, you can go into the app at any time and check e g the rent time, the bike's battery level and cost.
How do I end the rent?
- Find the nearest parking zone via the map in the app
- Park the bicycle within a parking zone and stand next to the bicycle
- End the rental in the app
- Wait for confirmation in the app that the rental has ended before you leave the bike
Do you need help returning the bike? Contact customer service by phone, 33 74 00 73 or via the contact form. If the customer center is closed, send information about what has happened and where the bike is via the contact form in the app. Before leaving the bike, try to secure it or lock it and contact us again the next day. You are responsible for the bike until the rental has ended.
Can I take the bike home with me?
Yes, but if you rent it for more than 15 minutes, it costs 1 kroner per minute until you reach the cap of 300 kroner, which is the maximum price for the first 12 hours. After 12 hours, the rental price starts again at 1 kroner per minute until you reach a new 300 kroner (for the next 12 new hours) - and so on.
What happens if the bike I borrow doesn't work?
The bikes are continuously checked and repaired. It may still be that you find a bike that you cannot use for one reason or another. You yourself are responsible for checking that the bicycle is working and in a safe condition before it is rented. If the bike is defective, we ask you to report the fault in the app. You can also contact Farte customer center on tel. 33 74 00 73 or via contact form.
What happens if the bike makes a noise or something else seems wrong?
The bikes are continuously checked and repaired. It may still be that you find a bike that you cannot use for one reason or another. You yourself are responsible for checking that the bicycle is complete and in a safe condition before it is put into use. If the bike is defective, we ask you to report the fault in the app. You can also contact Farte customer center on tel. 33 74 00 73 or via contact form.
What do I do if my phone runs out of power or data while I'm borrowing the bike?
You yourself are responsible for having enough battery and mobile data on your mobile phone to be able to operate the app during the rental period. If you lose/have your mobile phone stolen while you have locked the bike, report this to Farte customer centre, tel. 33 74 00 73, via app, or contact form
Do I have to wear a helmet?
We encourage users to put health and safety first and wear a helmet when renting, but there is no requirement for this.
Are the bikes heavy, are they comfortable to ride?
Farte's bicycles are quality bicycles that are built to last while providing the user with a comfortable experience. The bicycles weigh slightly more than a normal bicycle, but the fact that it is electric will make the user feel that it is much easier to use.
What is the advantage of an electric bicycle compared to a regular one?
An electric bike is technically like riding a regular bike, but because it has motor assistance, it feels much easier to ride. The engine gives you help, but only when you step on the pedals. This way you get the feeling of control while the engine helps you up hills and makes it easier to ride a little longer than on a regular bike.
There are two of us who want to rent a bike, but only one bike is available. Can we travel two on one bike?
No, it is not allowed to ride two adults on a bicycle according to the Road Traffic Act and there is only one seat on the bicycles. The city bike is only intended for use by one person at a time. If several people sit on the same bike, the weight distribution is different from what the bike was designed for and you risk damage to the wheels and engine.
Can I rent two bikes by using one single mobile phone?
No. There only one account is possible per mobile at a time. It is the user who is registered in the app who is responsible for the bike that is rented. Therefore, we also do not recommend lending your mobile phone to others in order to rent a bike.
Is it possible to reserve a bicycle?
No unfortunately. The first-come, first-served principle applies.
Safety and accidents
What should I do if I have an accident with the bicycle?
If you are involved an accident, health must be prioritized first; contact 113 or other medical assistance to ensure that those involved receive help. Then make sure that the bike or other objects do not create obstacles for other road users and finally make sure to notify our customer service on tel. 33 74 00 73 so that we can assist users and collect the bike if needed.
Do you have insurance that covers damage to users and third parties?
No, the hirer is personally responsible for the bike from the time the hire is activated until the hire ends. If you want insurance, the individual tenant must arrange this themselves. See details of liability in the terms of use.
What happens if the bike is stolen or damaged while I'm renting it?
If the bike is unlocked when you leave it, you are liable for damages if it is damaged or lost. You must immediately report the theft or damage to Farte. You are also obliged to cooperate with Farte on completing a police report.
A Farte city bike has been involved in an incident which is a breach of the Road Traffic Act. Who is responsible?
It is the user or renter of the city bicycle who is responsible for knowing and complying with the traffic rules. It must also be cycled responsibly and according to the conditions. In case of serious offences, contact the police. In the event of damage to property or assets, contact your own insurance company.
About the city bike scheme
How many city bikes are there in Grenland?
During the pilot period, there will be approximately 120 electric bicycles available in Porsgrunn and Skien (within the parking zones). During the spring of 2023, the offer will be expanded to 250 electric bicycles, and the number of parking zones will then also increase.
How are the bikes charged?
The bikes have a battery that is changed by our operating crews, and this happens continuously, so most bikes will always offer a good range. You can read the battery level on the bikes in the app at any time to see the remaining distance available.
Why aren't there more parking zones?
Initially, we will learn and experience a limited offer, but over time the aim is to expand the scheme and establish more parking zones. It is cycling to/from trains/hubs and business parks that will have priority in this initial phase.
Can I suggest new parking zones?
Yes, you can, contact us via the app, or write to us in the contact form on our website or send an e-mail to bysykkel@vtfk.no, and specify where you think a new zone should be created. We will work on expanding the number of parking zones during the spring of 2023.
How are you going to prevent the bikes from being parked all over the place?
Renting a Farte City Bike can only be ended within a defined parking zone, and it will therefore be financially expensive for users to put the bike away outside a designated parking zone. This system will help to ensure correct parking and prevent bicycles from potentially being parked so that they can become an obstacle to pedestrians and other traffic. In addition, our operating crews will also make sure that the bikes are placed where they should be.