United Daily News / Reporter Wang Junjie / Hsinchu Report

Every year, the Campus Security Team at National Tsing Hua University (NTHU) collects around 2,000 abandoned bicycles. Su Yun-Yu, a sophomore in the Department of Electrical Engineering, leads the T-Bike team, an interdisciplinary group of students who have developed a Secondhand Bicycle Circular Rental System. The system includes bicycle inspection and rental management, addressing students’ short-distance commuting needs and giving new life to unused bikes. The project won first place in the 4th NTHU Campus Sustainable Living Innovation Lab competition.

According to NTHU, the T-Bike team, under Su's leadership, spent a year incubating the project in the NTHU EE Maker Space. They designed a solution that integrates bicycle inspection, a sharing system, and green transportation—a demonstration of innovative convergence between engineering and sustainability.

Su observed that thousands of abandoned bicycles are left on campus every academic year, leading to wasted resources. She and her team surveyed students’ biking habits and proposed the concept of “borrowing instead of buying.” By offering inspection, repair, and rental services, they provide practical commuting options while revitalizing discarded bicycles. Their inspection work has already restored 43 bikes, receiving strong support and encouragement from faculty and students—a reminder that the power of action can benefit others.

Su shared that transitioning from her electrical engineering background to hands-on implementation helped her understand the challenges of moving from theoretical capability to practical usability. Designing a bicycle sharing system required careful consideration of safety, regulations, and ease of use—true user-centered engineering in action.

She recalled that two years ago, the T-Bike system primarily focused on repairs, using a "work-for-bike" or deposit model. However, management and safety issues—such as bikes being ridden to the Hsinchu Railway Station and not returned to campus, or a lack of regular maintenance—led to low rental rates and operational difficulties. The team later redeveloped the system to enhance reliability. It is now undergoing pilot testing on campus, offering limited repair services. Their goal is to establish a campus-wide bicycle ecosystem and achieve long-term sustainability.

NTHU noted that the T-Bike team formed a co-learning group with students from the Department of Computer Science, the Department of Power Mechanical Engineering, and the College of Arts. Together, they conducted data research, system planning, and field testing. Core members include EE sophomores Yu Yan-Ting and Su Yun-Yu, who are responsible for project coordination and system design, ensuring that the service integrates both information and electrical engineering applications.