Shenzhen has begun a pilot program to make weekend cross-district cycling easier by allowing bicycles to be taken on select metro routes alongside their riders.

The trial service is being rolled out on four routes covering Lines 2 and 8, Line 6 and the Line-6 branch. During the pilot, the bike-on-metro service will operate only during weekend service hours, with a flat fare of 35 yuan.

Riders must reserve in advance: individuals must book at least one working day ahead by calling Shenzhen Metro’s customer service hotline at 8896-0600, while group bookings require three working days’ notice.

Metro stations on the pilot lines now provide bicycle bagging/packing areas and have emergency kits and first-aid supplies available for cyclists. Officials say the measures are designed to address the long-standing difficulty of coordinating people and bikes during travel, and to better support weekend cycling enthusiasts.

The program’s first promoted destination is the Yantian Mid-Hill Leisure Cycling Trail,  which is directly accessible by Line 8.