Bike-sharing firms seek ways to stay afloat

Bike-sharing spells convenience, but the oversaturation of start-ups and price wars have made them unsustainable

Mobike's bicycles covered by tarpaulin at a logistics base in Wuhan. Two years ago, the bike-sharing titan declared its plans to operate in over 100 cities globally, but it is withdrawing from overseas markets, including Singapore.
Mobike's bicycles covered by tarpaulin at a logistics base in Wuhan. Two years ago, the bike-sharing titan declared its plans to operate in over 100 cities globally, but it is withdrawing from overseas markets, including Singapore. PHOTO: REUTERS
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Each morning, Ms He Xiaoyuan rides a shared electric scooter to the train station, hops on the train for three stops, before riding a shared bicycle to her workplace.

The entire journey takes the political researcher 40 minutes - about 20 minutes less than if she had to walk to and from the train station.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on April 15, 2019, with the headline Bike-sharing firms seek ways to stay afloat. Subscribe