Beijing is set to install around 300 virtual fences in the Tongzhou district as parking lots for shared bikes, after sloppy parking has led to a string of complaints.

"These e-fences with special marks both on the ground and within the mobile app maps are located near residential communities, schools, subway stations, bus stops and commercial blocks for the convenience of bike users," said a local government official.

A user will receive a text message if they fail to park a bike in a designated space, while those who stow the bike away properly will be awarded credit points which they can use for future discounts.

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Shared bicycles will be equipped with dual positioning systems, Beidou and GPS, so that they can be located if they are not properly parked, the official said.

The first batch of 2,000 new cycles will be provided by ofo at the end of June, he said.

There were 18.9 million shared bike users nationwide by the end of 2016 and that number is expected to hit 50 million by the end of this year, according to the China E-Commerce Research Center.

After all, haphazard parking has caused problems for pedestrians and motorists. 

Source: Xinhua