Nat Bromhead
A week after its Aussie launch and successful bid to be exclusive bikeshare provider on the Gold Coast, Mobike has announced its arrival in Sydney.
A quick glance at the latest player in the Sydney dockless share bike scheme – the fourth after Obike, Ofo and Reddy Go – and you’ll see Mobikes feature a light weight brushed alloy finish, chainless shaft transmission, non-puncture airless tires, enhanced and durable disk-brakes and five-spoke wheels that bring back memories of BMX Tuffs.
According to the company these functional design elements result in maintenance-free bikes, with each Mobike’s lifespan estimated at 4 years.
‘Higher Quality’ Bike Share
The company has appointed Mina Nada as General Manager of Australia. Born and raised in Sydney, Mina joins Mobike from Deliveroo, where he launched the company’s operations in Australia.
Mr Nada said Mobike’s unique technologies and the quality of the bikes will attract many more Sydneysiders to the benefits of bikeshare.
“We’re hoping Sydney will quickly recognise Mobike as the best bikeshare service available,” he said.
“We are aware of the issues which have arisen with existing bikeshare offerings and our top priority is to demonstrate how we’re fundamentally different. Advocating the responsible and safe use of our bikes, including when parking, is critical, but we’ll go much further than that thanks to our highly experienced team on the ground, as well as our GPS-embedded smart-locks combined with our AI capabilities.”
Green Square & Beyond
Mobike’s initial fleet is placed around the Green Square district.
“From our consultation with City of Sydney, we understand that this is an area where there are many people travelling towards the city each day, and buses and trains are often full,” said Mr Nada.
“With Green Square set to have the highest population density in Australia, we see this as a clear pressure point on existing transport infrastructure where Mobike can add immediate value to Sydney. I’m looking forward to Sydneysiders discovering how Mobike offers reliable utility with added benefit a health kick and a positive environmental contribution.”
Smart Locking System And GPS Tracking
Mobike’s are connected to their own network via GPS-embedded smart lock, and a Vodafone SIM, enabling pin-point accuracy in locating a bike through the app. According to Mobike, the tracking technology enables around-the-clock visibility for the local operations team to ensure bikes are strategically located in high-use areas, and will also set off a bike alarm and alert the operations team when a bike is relocated improperly.
James Van Rooyen of Sydney Bike Tours, a company which has partnered with Mobike, said when you walk past a Mobike in Sydney – stop and take a look.
“These bikes are intentionally designed to provide the best ride, and to last,” he said.
“Mobikes operate on a shaft drive rather than a chain to ensure they don’t break down, and unlike any other share bikes in Australia, they use a high-quality disk and drum brake to increase the safety of your ride. We’ve partnered with Mobike to support their Sydney operation because we firmly believe in the benefits of bikeshare and that Mobike has the best solution available.”
Over To You: Is there a place for a 4th bike share operator and what do you think of the rollout of dockless bike share in Australia?
