Mobike faces shaky ride in the UK as vandals put spoke in wheels

World
Europe

Two weeks after launching its operations in the UK, China’s top bike-sharing company Mobike has gained traction among the majority of users, but the short journey so far has not been without speed bumps.

In late June, a fleet of 1,000 dockless orange bicycles was deployed to the streets of Manchester and Salford, offering residents a cheap option to get around, all the while exercising and taking pride in combating pollution.

Mobike's signature dockless bikes parked in Manchester. /VCG Photo

Despite being well-received by the vast majority of users, some of the bikes met an awful destiny — thefts, damage and negligence.

In one instance, a Manchester local filmed a group of young vandals kicking, destroying and throwing stones at a parked Mobike bicycle.

Screenshot from a video capturing vandals throwing stones at a Mobike bicyle.

“It’s just pure vandalism. It’s such a shame,” the anonymous resident told Manchester Evening News.

Screenshot of video footage showing vandals destroying a parked bike.

In the first 10 days of the scheme, nearly 20 incidents of theft or vandalism were reported to police, according to local paper.

Two bicycles were even thrown into one of the city's canal, while locks on a few bikes were yanked out in an attempt to steal them.

Some residents failed to understand the concept behind the bicycles, which are accessible to all members of the public through a mobile phone app, and thought the users of the bikes are stealing them. Some reports incidents of theft when the alarm fitted in the bicycle sounded as users were moving the two-wheeled vehicles.

A Mobike user riding in Manchester. /VCG Photo

On Thursday, Mobike responded to the recent incidents.

“We have noticed few occasions where our bikes were maltreated, but most of our British users ride the bikes while abiding by regulations,” the company told Shanghai-based publication The Paper. “Besides, the city council and local police also offer us gracious support.”

The company pointed out that it will seek cooperation with local authorities, communities and partners to regulate how the bikers are used and limit the violations to ensure the company’s continuous development in Manchester.

The recent launches in the UK have been seen as an attempt by Mobike to test the waters in a European market.

8098km