Tuesday, 19 March 2024
News

Chinese authorities order bike share users to take out insurance and hold ID

Chinese authorities have moved to put the brakes an escalating problem with bike share schemes, whereby a rush on the market by several dozen new operators has meant piles of bikes are being left on the streets.

According to a study by one of the largest operators – Mobike – their data alone shows a doubling in cycling’s modal share on the ground as more than 30 different companies have emerged in the space of a year. Many of those companies have built the technology into the bicycle itself, meaning no need for traditional docking. The result has been piles of multi-coloured bicycles lining streets of popular destinations.

Inevitably local authorities have now brought forward new rules to curb the rise in dumping on the streets. It will now be necessary for users to register with true identities, hold insurance for personal accidents and third-party liability and be older than 12 years. Methods to trace poor behaviour may also be implemented, which if proven may leave the user at risk of a damaged credit record.

Mobike and Ofo are two operators that had already anticipated the problem and have already made it compulsory for users to be registered and insured.

Read more here.