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They are currently driving on Bern and Zurich: Publibike's small-wheel bicycles. Rental stations for Velo Bern or Züri Velo are under construction. The system has been operating in Zurich since April and was officially inaugurated in Bern on Thursday. The party atmosphere is not clear. It is eclipsed by the scandal of illegally collected subsidies to PostBus. Publibike is a subsidiary of PostBus
Publibike has already lost its president because of the postbus scandal. Roman Cueni was a member of the Postauto Board of Directors. Like all other members of the Postauto Executive Committee, he was released immediately in early June. "We still have the ability to act," says Bruno Rohner, managing director of Publibike. At present, the Post is studying how to proceed with the occupation of employment
3.8 million losses
The post-war scandal bus also casts unfavorable light on the finances of Publibike, The reason: In the investigation report of the law firm Kellerhals Carrard to work on the case also comes Publibike. The passage shows that Publibike suffered a loss of CHF 3.8 million between 2012 and 2015. Publibike does not want to announce the figures for the years 2016 and 2017.
The losses raise questions: Where does Publibike have money to suffer losses and invest for so many years? Has the company benefited from the advantages of PostBus? Was the tax money so incorrect in the bike rental system?
According to the press service of the Post Office, there is "no direct cash flow from PostBus to Publibike". The investments do not give PostBus, but the free post. Publibike has a credit agreement with the Post Office and is financed on market terms. For cross-financing by PostBus, there is "no proof to date". "If that changes, we will clarify that more," said a spokesman. Rohner confirms it:
PostBus says there is "no indication yet" about cross-subsidization, the Post says.
The losses of previous years are explained by the managing director of Publibike the bike lender had pursued yet another business model at that time. The company initially relied on smaller bicycle networks, such as Monthey VS or Aigle VD. Since Publibike bikes must always be returned to a distribution station, a small network with few locations is unsuitable. In addition, the infrastructure was expensive at that time, says Rohner. The success of rental bicycles did not materialize
Publibike decided to change its strategy a few years ago. Today, the subsidiary Postauto plans large networks, develops a new system and applies bids in Bern and Zurich. Publibike won the auction in both places. But in both cities, the competitor defeated Intermobility, who stands behind the Bieler Velospot system, challenged the decision. It has been followed by years of judicial proceedings. The beginning of Publibike hesitated. In Zurich, meanwhile, established various private providers such as O-bike, Smide or Lime. O-bike moves back again.
O-bike not out of the market
Did Publibike put the competitor off the market? The boss of Publibike, Rohner, denies it, he explains that the retirement of the O-bike of all Europe has nothing to do with the entry on the Publibike market.
The cities that ordered the Publibike system pay nothing in principle. It is true that unlike Zurich, Bern has hired a 50% person. It supports requests for housing seeking a rental. Publibike pays for the bicycles and the construction of the rental stations.
The company wants to make money by renting bicycles. Other sales are to bring advertising space, which are attached to the handlebar basket, and sponsorship contributions. For example, companies can order a bike station for employees for a lump sum contribution. The publibike boss is confident that things are going up. "The goal is to be in the dark in three years," he says.
Doubt over the economic model
A geek of the bicycle rental industry, Philip Douglas, does not believe that it will succeed. "Publibike will never be in the dark in its current form," he says. "Douglas founded Velpel Velpel, he delivered rental bikes to Lausanne, Bienne, Thun, Mainz and Kassel and set up a bicycle rental system in Qatar. And he set up the rental company Velobility, who also wanted to provide the new Publibike with bicycles. But the PostBus girl refused. This has blocked the home market for Velobility, says Douglas. Three days later, Velobility went bankrupt
Douglas takes a firm stance with Publibike: The Postbus girl wanted to do everything on her own. So she did develop an expensive castle, although there have already been inexpensive and proven models on the market. The same applies to bicycles. The boss of Publibike, Rohner, contradicts: A system ready for use did not exist. Rental bikes are a very specific market. Publibike therefore had to first look for suitable suppliers.
Douglas doubts that sharing bicycles is in itself a business model. "Digital giants like Alibaba, Google or Uber are investing heavily in bike sharing systems abroad." In the short term, however, they do not bother to make money with their rental biking. Cycling is just a way to place your own app on users' smartphone screens.
(Tages-Anzeiger)
Created: 01.07.2018, 19:25
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