Bicing station; the bike is recognised automatically and is locked into place. Specialised vans are used to redistribute Bicing bicycles between the stations to even out usage patterns. However, as of November 2007, the number and frequency of vans is not able to keep up during the peak hours, making it very difficult to find a spot at which to return the bike in some areas. Subscription Use of the system is based on membership, and users can subscribe online or by visiting a service office. Bicing member cards are only sent to addresses in Catalonia in an attempt to prevent tourists from using the system. This limitation was imposed upon the city council by pre-existing local bike hire companies (grouped under Bicitours) that feared what they called illicit competition from the Bicing system. Bicitours and the city council agreed to enforce a block of ten minutes to change bikes (that is, when docking a bike, the user is prevented from leaving with another bike for ten minutes). As a result, tourists are barred from using what is officially denominated a "public transport system". Bicycle design The bike is specially designed to prevent theft of parts, or of the whole bike, as well as to prevent vandalism. It is also designed to be easily recognised. However, common user complaints include missing bells, cut brakes, and poor maintenance. Bikes have sometimes been stolen, even by sawing the anchors that fix bikes on the stands, and found repainted. Stations Bike stations have generally replaced on-street car or motorcycle parking spaces, though others were placed in large pedestrian areas. Each station includes a long series of docks for bikes, with a computerized pylon at one end for completing transactions. Financing The system is paid for mostly by local car drivers with an on-street parking control system, distributed throughout much of the densely populated inner city. This money, about €2.23 million annually, is paid to the system operator. The yearly user fee is €47.16 with tax included, which makes it the city's cheapest public transport service. Recently the city made a sponsorship agreement with mobile operator Vodafone to feature the operator's logo on the system in exchange for €1.2 million a year. Usage statistics Each individual bike is used between 10 and 15 times a day. More than 95% of rides in the system are shorter than 30 minutes. When a bicycle is returned,