Service Design · 2012
Cycle — A Bike Loaning and Recycling System
Cycle introduces a holistic sustainable transportation system for Tongji University. Students get a uniquely designed bike they can personalize with colors and materials — creating ownership, community, and pride. When students graduate, they return the bike for the next generation.
Jie Yang, Frederic Jensen, Natascha Christensen, Karina Larsen, Helena Levison, Mette Morch, Ye Yin, Yuexin Du · 5 weeks
Unsustainable Biking Culture
Tongji University has a deep-rooted problem with its campus biking culture. Students buy cheap bikes, neglect maintenance, and abandon them when they graduate — leaving piles of locked, rotting bikes that staff must constantly relocate.
Abandoned Bikes
When students graduate, many simply leave their bikes locked on campus. Abandoned bikes accumulate and become increasingly difficult to remove.
Broken Bikes
Bikes are not maintained. When damaged, students show no interest in repairs — even for minor issues.
No Ownership
Most bikes look identical, making them hard to locate when workers move them. Bikes are just tools, not connected to personal identity.
Introducing
CYCLE
A sustainable bike loaning and recycling system
The Cycle Bike
Students choose colors and materials to personalize their bike — building community identity across campus. A recognizable, personalized bike fosters a deeper sense of ownership and responsibility.
The Service System
The system consists of styling, bike finding, a service center, bike events, social media, and a graduation return loop — where used bikes cycle back to new incoming students.
Nordic Design & Innovation Week at Bridge 8, Shanghai
Cycle was exhibited at the Nordic Design & Innovation Week in Shanghai — demonstrating how service design thinking can transform institutional infrastructure.
Our Process
Field research, prototyping, and iteration across five weeks.
