Taipei, Aug. 28 (CNA) Taipei Metro launched an umbrella sharing service across its stations on Monday, which allows people to rent umbrellas for a maximum period of 14 days and return them at different sites.
A total of 266 umbrella service sites have been set up at Taipei Metro's 117 stations by raingo, the contractor for the new sharing scheme, according to a statement issued by Taipei Rapid Transit Corp. (TRTC).
The rental fee is set at NT$19 (US$0.60) for the first hour, NT$29 for the second, with a 24-hour cap of NT$39, according to TRTC.
If the umbrella is not returned after one day, an additional NT$20 will be charged every 24 hours thereafter, TRTC added.
If the user has not returned the umbrella after 14 days, or an umbrella is vandalized or lost, the user will be charged NT$799, TRTC said.
However, TRTC added that if the umbrella is recovered, the system will deduct the rent calculated on a daily basis from the charge.
TRTC said users can select various payment methods after downloading the raingo App on their smart phone or tablet and registering by providing personal information such as a phone number and email address.
In addition, users who register successfully before the end of September and enter a special discount number will receive two coupons, each one allowing them to rent an umbrella free for a 24-hour period, the TRTC added.
Both coupons will expired at the end of October, TRTC said.
