Bike-share schemes, a service where bicycles are made available for shared use to individuals on a very short-term basis, have become wildly popular in China during the last year, and now the trend is hitting the streets of Wuxi in East China's Jiangsu province.
Xiao Ming Bike, run by the new start-up Guangzhou Yueqi Information Technology Company, became the first bike-sharing scheme to launch in Wuxi on Feb 20, when its first tranche of sky blue bicycles were seen on street corners across the city.
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A local resident rides off on a trademark sky blue Xiao Ming Bike at Zhongshan Road in downtown Wuxi, Jiangsu province. [Photo provided to China Daily] |
However, Xiao Ming Bike will soon face stiff competition from Mobike, one of the dominant players in China's rapidly growing bike-share industry, which has plans to launch its own scheme in the city in the near future. Mobike will be aided by the fact that its manufacturing operations are based in Wuxi, making a roll-out in the city comparatively easy.
A government-run public bicycle-sharing system is also due to start operation in May.
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A bicycle owned by bike-sharing company Mobike. The company, one of the biggest players in China's bike-sharing industry, has announced plans to launch its own bike-sharing scheme in Wuxi, Jiangsu province. [Photo provided to China Daily] |
According to Xiao Ming Bike developers Guangzhou Yueqi, the company chose to enter the Wuxi market due to the region's remarkable regional GDP and high population density.
Wuxi's gorgeous natural landscape and rich experience in hosting various international cycling contests also made the city a perfect venue for a bike-share scheme, the company added.
Sun Juan, an office worker in Wuxi and one of the very first Xiao Ming Bike users, appreciated the extra convenience the new scheme provides.
"The bike-share scheme is really convenient as I can now ride from my company to the metro station instead of walking," said Sun.
Sun also said that she was impressed by how easy it is borrow a bike through Xiao Ming Bike, which requires users simply to scan a QR code on the bike using their smart phone. The monetary deposit can be refunded at any time, she added.
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A local resident borrows one of the bicycles owned by bike-sharing scheme Xiao Ming Bike by scanning a QR code on the bike in Wuxi, Jiangsu province. [Photo provided to China Daily] |
Both Xiao Ming Bike and Mobike require users first to download the company's apps and provide a monetary deposit to become a paid subscriber.
Neither company requires users to deposit bikes at specific stations; instead, riders are able to leave bikes on the street.
Wuxi has not yet released details on how the government-run bicycle-sharing system will work.
The local government has welcomed the launch of the new bike-sharing schemes, stating that they provide free or affordable access to bicycles for short-distance trips in urban areas, solving the "last mile" problem and connecting users to public transit networks.
