Chinese companies shake up US bike sharing

Global Business

Chinese companies shake up US bike sharing

The world’s largest bike-sharing company Mobike is coming to the U.S. The Chinese company has chosen to roll out its operations in the U.S. capital of Washington, D.C.

CGTN’s Daniel Ryntjes reports.

For the last seven years, Capital Bikeshare, a city government-funded system has been the only game in town. But now the private sector’s rolling in with a new system. Up until now you could only rent bikes from specific docking stations in this city.

Now you can pick them up from anywhere, and when you’re done with your ride, you can leave it, virtually anywhere.

Mobike, the world’s largest bike sharing platform, approached the city with the concept and negotiated an initial six- month trial.

“We will start with a fairly small amount of bike fleets, which is very manageable and controllable so we can understand and learn the market to adapt our service, to tailor-made our service to the local market. We invented a smart lock which enables us to track real-time the whole fleet, knowing where they are and help us to optimize our operation,” Rachel Song, general manager at Mobike U.S. said.

Several other bike-sharing platforms, like Lime Bike, with similar business models are also involved with the trial.

The Mobike system uses GPS tracking powered by a solar panel in the basket. The company to monitors its fleet and make adjustments if they get complaints about inappropriate parking through the city government.

Mobike has also introduced a user ‘credit’ score, which will provide financial incentives for users to learn the ‘dos’ and ‘don’ts’ of parking. Because with this new liberty comes responsibility.