Shared baby strollers spark debate in China

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Shared baby strollers bring a low-cost and convenient rental service to users in Hangzhou city, but safety and hygiene concerns have caused others to question the business.

Shared baby strollers. /Photo from www.e23.cn

Paying a 99 yuan (US $15 dollars) deposit, users can scan the stroller’s QR code using the DeeMeng app, and enjoy their rental for 2 yuan (about US 30 cents) per hour.

Some users say they like the rental idea and don't have to carry out their own baby strollers anymore, as the shared ones are cheap and easy to find.

However, others hold the opposite opinion that shared baby strollers might have safety and hygiene issues for babies, who are normally considered vulnerable and delicate.

Photo from chinanews.com

City inspectors reportedly seized several shared strollers parked on sidewalks because they caused congestion. Meanwhile, strollers dumped in famous tourist attractions were also reported to be cleared out since they were there without the government's approval.

Besides shared strollers, other shared products also face similar problems in China. People have complained of shared bikes taking up too much public space. To solve the safety issue caused by a massive amount of bikes, Beijing has temporarily banned new shared bikes from being put in public areas.