Bike-sharing in China pedals its way to Australia

SYDNEY, Nov. 10 (People’s Daily Online)--On Oct. 26, 2017, Beijing-based Company Ofo welcomed its first 200 yellow bikes in the City of Sydney council area.

The most crucial part of Ofo’s introduction to Australia is partnering with government and community stakeholders in many cities across Australia in order to discuss local needs, best practices and potential launches.

“We have found all levels of government and stakeholders to be receptive to our proposition and focus on launching ‘the right way’ in Australia,” said Xuanbin He, Ofo’s Regional Director (Australia).

Ofo is committed to rolling out a bike share scheme that truly works in Australia.

Even though dockless bike sharing is a new concept in Australia, the affordable price, easy-to-use and eco-friendly concept has prompted many citizens to download the software and use these yellow bikes.

The equipment of the Ofo bike complies with the requirements of Australian federal law including helmets and front and rear lights. Additionally, there is a three gearshift to accommodate night rides and the many steep slopes in Australia. Finally, the bikes are equipped with a GPS-enabled Geofence which ensures appropriate resourcing within the riding zone at all times.

No deposit is required and it costs only AU$1 for half an hour ride and AU$5 for an entire trip. What’s more, you don’t need to lock it back.

“Compared to the Chinese who like freshness and are willing to accept new things, Australians may not accept new concepts as fast,” said He.

“Therefore, we also distribute informative flyers to passersby in the streets to teach the community how to use Ofo. This will let everyone feel that Ofo is not an imported product but a product that can bring convenience into their life.”

A recent report revealed that two-thirds of Australians spend and earn money through the sharing economy. With the rise of shared services such as Uber, Airbnb and many others in Australia, the shared economy has grown rapidly in Australia.

With its successful experience in China, Ofo localized the service of sharing bicycles according to local Australian conditions. 100 bikes were released in the city of Adelaide, followed by Sydney. The plan is to release another 200 bikes in the City of Waverly and the City of Inner West.

“We believe that Australia as a market has significant transport gaps and a clear need for better short distance point-to-point transport solutions,” said He.

It is believed that the sharing of bicycles, which is rated as one of the “new big four inventions” in China, will infuse new vitality into Australia’s shared economy.