FIVE bikes belonging to the bike-sharing app ofo were changed into private bikes as their original electric locks were replaced by private locks in a residential estate in Bao’an District, according to a local TV news program.

    A resident living in the estate, surnamed Tian, said that he had noticed an ofo bike having a private lock installed after its electric lock was removed before the Spring Festival. He said that five ofo bikes had been turned into private bikes over the past month.

    “I couldn’t stand it anymore. I really hope that the relevant government departments can handle the case,” he said, adding that he doesn’t want to see more app-based bikes being sabotaged.

    Li Weihang, the person in charge of ofo’s operation in Shenzhen, checked on the involved bikes and reported the case to the company after the TV program’s reporter contacted him.

    Li said that ofo has 200 employees in Shenzhen, and they have to deal with cases involving bikes being sabotaged or retrofitted for private use every day. He said that ofo has used smart locks and GPS devices to locate bikes, but the company has to do more to prevent bikes from being illegally turned into private bikes.

    A PR manager from ofo said that the company was responsible for educating its users by telling them how to use the bikes in a safe and civilized way, according to the report.

    (Zhang Yang)