Wei Lian
Since the advent of the bike-sharing industry five years ago, China has brought numerous new bikes to its city streets each year. The brightly colored bicycles produced by various companies, like Hellobike, Qingju, and Meituan Bikes, can be unlocked using mobile apps.
These companies launched bike-sharing services first and expanded their business then by developing electric bicycle sharing in recent years to meet their users’ demand for longer trips.
Instead of simply flooding the cities with millions of bikes, they are increasingly using AI and “big data” to identify the most in-demand spots and keep optimizing their operations and services for the benefit of their users.
Bike sharing programs provide a new transportation mode option for residents and tourists at a low price. A single ride within 30 minutes normally costs RMB 1.5 or 1.8, though some regional difference exists in the bike rental.
Rental costs for electric bikes are relatively higher, with a starting price of RMB 2 for fewer than 15 minutes and RMB 1 for each additional 10 minutes.
In practice, however, companies may offer Annual or Monthly Membership prices for frequent users and other discount prices for those who ride occasionally.
Shared bikes are especially suitable for short-distance or one-way trips. They are available in nearly all residential neighborhoods and working places as good alternatives to buses or walking.
As the slogan has once been shouted, shared bikes “perfectly solve the ‘last mile problem’ by offering easy access from their users’ front door to the next subway or train stop.”
Bicycles can be unlocked and parked for the user’s convenience. They also help their users avoid massive traffic jams and exercise a bit. While ordinary shared bikes suit the convenience of short-distance travelers, electric bikes are designed for users who hope to expand their traveling coverage.
In recent years, Chinese commuters have shown increasing enthusiasm for longer riding trips–they cover their whole journey by bike. Some leading bicycle operators, like Hellobike, Meituan, Qingju, etc., have been expanding their e-bike-sharing business in the past two years to meet this demand.
This requires safe and convenient charging spots and measures to ensure the cyclists’ safety. China published national standards for electric vehicles in 2019, which included requirements for centralized charging and replacement. Bike-sharing companies also cooperate with battery makers to solve technological problems.
To ensure the safety of cyclists, bike-sharing companies in China attempt to promote the use of helmets for electric bike cyclists. In Changsha, Hunan province, for instance, safety helmets with identical colors to the bikes were placed on the front baskets of the bikes. Light as it is, the helmet is hard, and its size can be adjusted according to the cyclist’s head circumference.
Since 2021, the helmet in Changsha has been upgraded to a 4G smart helmet. Cyclists can scan the QR code on the bike, and the message about wearing the helmet will pop up automatically. When the cyclists finish their journey, they should return the helmet before locking the electric bikes.
Recently, Hellobike, Meituan, Xibaoda, and some other enterprises displayed the upgraded smart helmets of their shared electric bikes. The new helmet is more intelligent and can quickly identify whether the user is wearing a helmet.
Li Wei, the provincial manager of Hellobike, used his mobile phone to scan the code to unlock a shared electric bike and put on a helmet. The electric bike can be used immediately.
After driving for a distance, Li Wei took off his helmet. The green light on the bike indicated the power went out immediately, and the vehicle was powered off. Only when he put on his helmet again was the driving function resumed.
Bicycle sharing enterprises have also been working on maintaining their shared bicycles and helmets–they timely clean the helmets and replace and repair them with potential safety hazards to effectively ensure the safety of cyclists.
With smart helmet technology being constantly upgraded and applied, cycling can be safer. As one of the most popular forms of sharing economy, shared bikes will play increasingly important roles in alleviating traffic congestion and promoting a low-carbon lifestyle in China.
**The Diplomatic Insight does not take any position on issues and the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Diplomatic Insight and its staff.
