Han Ximin

    ximhan@126.com

    THE city’s traffic police will set up a unified app-based bike monitoring platform that is connected with the operators’ data to regulate riders.

    App-based bike operators are required to reduce the number of bikes near schools and set up a threshold to ban children under the age of 12 from using the bikes, according to a joint notice issued by traffic police, app-based bike operators and the education bureau yesterday.

    According to the law, children under 12 are not allowed to ride bicycles in the street. Parents who carry their children in the baskets of the app-based bikes will also be included in the credit system of the bike operators. They will be downgraded or even disqualified from using the bikes.

    App-based bikes are becoming increasingly popular. The number of app-based bikes in Shenzhen has increased to 320,000, serving more than 2 million people a day, since they debuted in the city six months ago.

    The popularity of bikes has also caused an increase in bike violations, such as riding on vehicle lanes, running red lights, and illegal and random parking.

    In January, police punished more than 3,500 bike violations, including 120 violations involving app-based bikes.

    The four major operators, including Mobike and ofo, have agreed to slow the release of bicycles into the market and improve the efficiency of the service.

    “Police will establish a credit system for bike riders. Violators will be fined and their credit will be affected,” said Liu Yuchi, chief of the transportation department of the traffic police.

    “The app-based bikes provide new options for short-trip travelers with commutes within 5 kilometers, or for sightseeing and leisure,” Li Weihang, an employee of ofo, said yesterday. The company has hired full-time employees to ensure orderly parking and maintenance of the bikes. The parking of bikes at Shenzhen Bay Park, which had drawn criticism for random parking, has greatly improved.

    “I now work eight hours a day, parking the bikes at Shenzhen Bay Park and fixing those with problems. Those I can’t fix will be centralized and brought to our repair shop,” an employee with ofo, surnamed Liang, said yesterday.

    The popularity of app-based bikes has also caused a reduction in illegal e-bike services at Metro stations, short-trip taxi services and app-based cabs, especially during morning and evening rush hours.

    The traditional bicycle rental services at some parks, such as Shenzhen Bay Park, were also greatly affected by app-based bikes, which are convenient and much cheaper.

    At Shenzhen Bay Park, the operator of a traditional bike rental service charges 20 yuan (US$2.90) for one hour of cycling. A female employee, who refused to be named, said that their business had dropped sharply after the appearance of app-based bikes.