Chinese firm Mobike has joined the growing bike-sharing service battle in Singapore, Todayonline said in a report on March 22, 2017. Mobike operates in 33 Chinese cities and competes with Singapore firm oBike and Chinese firm Ofo in the local bike-sharing scene.
The company has deployed smart bikes, which do not have to be returned to fixed stations, at various spots.
These places include the National University of Singapore, Singapore Management University and Republic Polytechnic, as well as the National Gallery of Singapore. The firm is also eyeing Pasir Ris, Tampines, Punggol and Woodlands as potential areas to venture into next.
To start a ride, users simply enter their personal details on the Mobike app, then scan the QR code given to them to unlock a bike. They can drop off the bike at any bike-parking area, such as at void decks and MRT stations, and manually lock it.
With the help of GPS technology, Mobike will be able to track down bikes that have been inappropriately returned, or rogue users who try to make away with the bikes. The company also hopes to encourage “good consumer behaviour” by rewarding users with credits for spotting and returning stray bikes, its head of international expansion Florian Bohnert told TODAY.
The GSPS technology will also allow staff to deploy Mobikes to areas with greater demand, he added.
This is Mobike’s first overseas foray, and the company chose to launch services in Singapore because of the country’s vision of an integrated and car-lite transport system. Its bikes are also “green”, with a solar panel that powers its internal system.