Meet the unknowns behind the bike-sharing business

Tong Yuxin poses among shared bikes near an exit of Lingjinghutong Subway Station in Beijing, April 24,2017. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Sharp eyes

"Hang on, I should call another buddy to take away this bike for repair," said Wang stopping by a bike parked by a roadside near Lingjinghutong Subway Station. We were on our way to meet one of his team members responsible for bikes rearrangement at the subway exit.

"The solar panel installed in the front basket is missing," he said, leaving me surprised to see him detect a fault at one glance.

"We are very familiar with the bikes," he added when he saw the look of surprise on my face. This eye for detail has translated into rich experiences.

The solar panel is part of the power supply system of the bike, he explained.

The buddy he introduced is Tong Yuxin, a 22-year-old new employee, a bike lover and also a fresh graduate from Northeast China's Jilin province.

Although he is new in this company, his connection with the shared bikes is long. He became a "hunter" first before joining the company. In the bike sharing circle, volunteers who team up in their spare time in search of destroyed or illegally parked bikes as well as those locked for private use call themselves "bike hunters".

He told chinadaily.com.cn he is so fond of cycling and the concept of sharing economy that he made up his mind to join the company after graduation.

His performance impressed the executives. The bikes after his rearrangement always stand in a straight row like soldiers in review. "He is very meticulous," Wang said with pride.

Although Tong isn't tall or strongly built, he is more courageous than he looks.

Once he saw a man who was much stronger than him trying to steal a bike seat, he went to stop him without a second thought. Sensing he may not be able to take on the thief, he managed to ask a friend to contact police without the thief noticing him. The seat was safe in the end as police arrived in time.