SINGAPORE — Singapore’s first fully-automated underground bicycle-parking system opened to the public on Friday (Jan 5), giving cyclists another option to lock up their bicycles.

The SecureMyBike system, which can hold more than 500 bicycles, began its trial in the Kampung Admiralty integrated development next to Admiralty MRT Station.

Bicycles are kept in “cells” underground, shielding them from the elements, and from theft and vandalism, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) said.

To encourage users to try the facility, the service is free until the end of this month.

Between February and April, rates will be discounted. Users may opt to pay either a monthly fee of S$22, which allows unlimited parking, or S$0.25 an hour. Starting May, the fees will be S$48 a month and S$0.45 hourly.

The trial was originally slated to begin early last year.

Asked about the delay, an LTA spokesperson said the launch on Friday coincided with other facilities in the integrated development, such as the hawker centre, being operational towards the end of last year.

The integrated development was announced in 2013 as the first of its kind comprising housing for the elderly, eldercare and childcare centres, among other amenities.

The LTA’s contractor, a Spanish firm, also needed more time to “carry out various tests on the automated parking and payment systems” before the launch, the spokesperson said.

Cyclists can store their bicycles and equipment such as shoes and helmets in the cells. Parking and retrieval of the items can be done within a minute.

The LTA did not provide a timeline for the trial, saying it would evaluate the “user experience and financial viability” of the system.

The new facility complements ground-level bicycle parking and the authorities hope to increase the uptake of cycling, especially for short-distance commutes in the estate.

To use the service, cyclists have to register for an account at the self-help kiosks in the SecureMyBike shop, next to the parking kiosks.