Han Ximin

ximhan@126.com

THE number of registered app-bike users in Shenzhen reached 10.52 million at the end of March and the authorities are working on regulations and technical standards for the industry’s healthy development.

According to a report released by the city’s transport commission Monday, the seven bike operators in the city had offered an average 2.59 million rides a day on the 530,000 bicycles they share across the city.

Among the users, around one-quarter used bikes more than six times a week and the other one-third used bikes between 3 and 5 times a week. Half of them used the bikes to commute, while 29 percent used them for sports and fitness and 12 percent used them for entertainment and shopping.

Among the users, 9.8 percent had started using app-based bikes for their commute instead of cars. The bikes helped reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 109,000 tons a year, according to the report, which was made on the basis of 16,546 questionnaires and statistics provided by the major app-bike operators.

The bikes also helped reduce illegal e-bike taxi services. The situation in some areas of the city, including the Xixiang-Pingzhou area in Bao’an District, the Daxin-Taoyuan area and the Baishizhou area in Nanshan District, the Shangsha-Xiasha area and the Shangmeilin area in Futian and Dongmen in Luohu, which were plagued by illegal e-bike services, have been greatly improved thanks to the popularity of app-based bikes.

The popularity of app-based bikes also came with some problems, such as broken bikes deserted on streets and a shortage of maintenance teams.

The transport commission said that it was working on market research to control the number of app-based bikes on the streets through cooperation with enterprises. The operators are required to clear the broken bikes from the street in a timely manner.

The commission will unveil technical standards for app-based bikes before the end of the year. The bikes must be equipped with an intelligent lock, a GPS and use electronic fences to set areas that are restricted from random parking.

It will also establish a rating mechanism to review the operation and services of bike operators, and set up more bicycle lanes and parking locations for bikes.