SHENZHEN will hold a hearing on the management of app-based bikes Nov. 20, according to a Shenzhen Economic Daily report yesterday quoting a source from the city’s transport commission.

The hearing was set to improve the commuting environment, regulate and guide the development of app-based bikes and protect the rights of users. The hearing will focus on the government’s monitoring mode over bike operators, the entry-and-exit mechanism of operators, standards for operation and services, and punishment and reward mechanisms for operators.

According to the commission, a total of 17 representatives from government agencies, shared-bike operators, residents, lawmakers and political advisers will attend the hearing through a voluntary sign-up process. If the number of applicants exceeds the quotas for participation, the commission will choose the candidates through lucky draws. The commission will give five opportunities to observe the hearing. These observers will also be selected through a lucky draw.

Those who want to attend the hearing can register at the first floor of the office building of the city’s transport commission before Friday. Applicants can check the detailed requirements on the official website of Shenzhen Municipal Transport Commission.

At present, there are 10 operators running a total of 890,000 bikes in the city. The number of registered users has reached 9 million, with bike-usage reaching 5.43 million a day, covering 10 districts and new areas. App-based bikes, along with bus and Metro service, have become a major means of resolving public transport difficulty and traffic congestion, especially for the last mile of a commute.

The industry plays an active role in a low-carbon life, but with the increasing release of the bikes onto Shenzhen’s roads, imbalanced distribution has caused an oversupply. Random parking, which occupies public space, and violations that disrupt the city’s traffic order, have caused dissatisfaction among the public. (Han Ximin)