SHARED-BIKE operator Mobike will increase its fare from 1 yuan (US$0.14) per 30 minutes to 1 yuan per 15 minutes starting today, according to a report by the Southern Metropolis Daily.

Shenzhen, following Beijing and Shanghai, becomes the third city in China where the shared-bike operator has adopted the new price scheme.

The notice released by the operator shows the fare includes a 1-yuan starting price for the first 15 minutes and an additional 0.5 yuan for every additional 15 minutes. Based on the calculation, a rider needs to pay 2.5 yuan for the first hour of using the service.

Previously, a rider would need to pay 1 yuan for every 30 minutes.

Mobike said the price adjustment is for the “healthy and sustainable development of the company, so that the company can provide a quality service to its customers.”

Bluegogo, which is managed by Mobike, posted a similar statement saying the increased cost is for the sustainable development of the company and better service.

An online survey by a newspaper with 3,600 respondents showed half of them thought the price hike was too much while one-third thought the price hike was reasonable.

Mobike said the price hike won’t affect riders much because they only need to pay an additional 0.5 yuan if they ride for one hour. Data shows 80 percent of riders use the service for no more than 15 minutes. (Liu Jieyu)