Hangzhou Public Bicycle uses smart-card technology, automated check in and check out, and distinguishable bicycle docking stations.[4] For the smart-card, the system requires an initial 200 yuan ($30) deposit for bike-sharing use.[4] Hangzhou Public Bicycle does not have a real-time information tracking current usage of bike-docking station, or a redistribution strategy to ensure all bicycle docking stations meet proper demand.[4]
For the first hour, users can ride for free; at the second hour, a user has to pay an additional 1 yuan ($0.15); at the third hour, the user has to pay an additional 2 yuan ($0.30), and any additional hours cost 3 yuan/hr ($0.44/hr).[4] Users pay for the duration of time a bike has been checked in and checked out of a station, so it is possible for a user to ride around the entire city for free.
On October 2010, a smartphone app called Palm Hangzhou, which tells bikeshare users how many bicycles each bike-share station has, was released by third party developer Zhang Guangyu.[8] However, despite popularity among users, Hangzhou Public Bicycle accused Zhang of illegally obtaining the bikeshare data.[9] As of March 2012, the app does not work anymore as Zhang's IP address was blocked from using the data for the app.[9]