I had a marketing class that discussed public bike and, actually, at that time I thought that the public bike hype would die down and no one would actually use it.
Society has proven me wrong!
If you don't know what kind of public bike I am talking about here's a short introduction.
In Hangzhou, there's the red bike and the "modern" public bike. What's the difference between these two?
Well, this is the red bike.
I've never used the red bike before but according to Baidu and my friend who actually used it more than twice, the red bike is free for the first thirty minutes. The system is that you need to have a bus card, put a deposit for the red bike and then you can use the red bike. Now, I am not sure how much you need to put a deposit for the red bike because some source said it's 20RMB, some said 200RMB and I am too lazy to do a proper research.
Boy, I am glad I didn't follow my dream to go into journalism and serious writing.
ANYWAYS.
After you put in your deposit money for the red bike, you can use all the red bikes in the city. These red bikes actually have a 'station' so you can only pick up a bike from the station and then you have to return it to its 'station'. It doesn't have to be the same station from where you pick up the red bike.
For example, you picked up a bike from "A" station then you ride the bike until you reach "D" station. You can put the bike you picked up from "A" station in "D" station. Usually the stations are pretty close to each other so you don't have to worry about not finding a station to return the bike.
Now the modern public bike.
Quick disclaimer!: this post is not sponsored by ofo, hellobike, what-have-yous bike out there. I am not sponsored or paid by anyone but if anyone wants to sponsor me, hit me up ;)
ANYWAYS.
I first know about the existence of this public sharing bike in 2016. At first I was so confused because the first thing I saw in the morning on my way to class was a field full of these yellow bikes. It was just- yellow bikes, yellow bikes everywhere.
Well yeah, those minion-yellow bikes belonged to a public-sharing bike company. The system is pretty much the same with the red bike; put in deposit then you can use the bike. I won't go on and on how you actually use this bike so I'll just make it short.
This kind of bike is free for the first one hour, btw. After an hour, you will need to pay--again, the price depends on which company of public sharing bike's service you're using. The price usually varies from 0.5RMB to 2RMB. I think some companies also offer 'free trial' period for their bikes.
My first impression of these public sharing bike wasn't that great because it was too light, it didn't give me stability that I need. The second weren't even that good because the public bike I picked up had no air in one of its tire, so yeah, I was pissed. The third was pretty good but I was already unimpressed by my first two so I think I kinda lowered my expectation for the third bike I used.
So, in my marketing class I had in 2016, we discussed the efficiency and the prospect of this public sharing bike inside a campus; will it thrive or will it die.
I was actually one of the people who thought it would die inside a campus, why? Here are my reasons:
Well, I was wrong. It actually thrived. I guess the aspect of its practicality wins out because now everyone in the city uses these public bikes. The only thing that the city needs to pay attention about the thriving market of these public bikes is that they need a better management system. If these bikes aren't properly managed, it will only lead to a lot of abandoned broken bikes which will lead even more amount of trash, I think. This has become an issue in Shanghai though the only source I read about abandoned broken public bikes was just a 'post' on my WeChat moments- so lol. yeah.
So yeah. I guess that's all about public sharing bike.
See y'all next time!
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| the "first" public bike that was introduced to my campus a.k.a 小黄车 |
Society has proven me wrong!
If you don't know what kind of public bike I am talking about here's a short introduction.
In Hangzhou, there's the red bike and the "modern" public bike. What's the difference between these two?
Well, this is the red bike.
I've never used the red bike before but according to Baidu and my friend who actually used it more than twice, the red bike is free for the first thirty minutes. The system is that you need to have a bus card, put a deposit for the red bike and then you can use the red bike. Now, I am not sure how much you need to put a deposit for the red bike because some source said it's 20RMB, some said 200RMB and I am too lazy to do a proper research.
ANYWAYS.
After you put in your deposit money for the red bike, you can use all the red bikes in the city. These red bikes actually have a 'station' so you can only pick up a bike from the station and then you have to return it to its 'station'. It doesn't have to be the same station from where you pick up the red bike.
For example, you picked up a bike from "A" station then you ride the bike until you reach "D" station. You can put the bike you picked up from "A" station in "D" station. Usually the stations are pretty close to each other so you don't have to worry about not finding a station to return the bike.
Now the modern public bike.
 |
| more than just one 'brand' |
 |
| mobike, one of the popular brands of public bike the deposit for this one is more expensive than yellow ofo-bikes |
Quick disclaimer!: this post is not sponsored by ofo, hellobike, what-have-yous bike out there. I am not sponsored or paid by anyone but if anyone wants to sponsor me, hit me up ;)
ANYWAYS.
I first know about the existence of this public sharing bike in 2016. At first I was so confused because the first thing I saw in the morning on my way to class was a field full of these yellow bikes. It was just- yellow bikes, yellow bikes everywhere.
Well yeah, those minion-yellow bikes belonged to a public-sharing bike company. The system is pretty much the same with the red bike; put in deposit then you can use the bike. I won't go on and on how you actually use this bike so I'll just make it short.
- First, you register your phone number then pay deposit. The deposit price ranges from 99RMB to 299RMB. Depends on which company's bike you're using.
- Then scan the QR code that is on the bike's body.
- After you scan the QR code, you will receive a text that tells you the password for the bike's lock. Put in the password then ride merrily into the sunset.
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| the QR code |
My first impression of these public sharing bike wasn't that great because it was too light, it didn't give me stability that I need. The second weren't even that good because the public bike I picked up had no air in one of its tire, so yeah, I was pissed. The third was pretty good but I was already unimpressed by my first two so I think I kinda lowered my expectation for the third bike I used.
So, in my marketing class I had in 2016, we discussed the efficiency and the prospect of this public sharing bike inside a campus; will it thrive or will it die.
I was actually one of the people who thought it would die inside a campus, why? Here are my reasons:
- Profit: are they even making a profit? No one would ride a bike for an hour inside a campus. The students only need fifteen minutes tops to ride a bike from the buildings where they have classes. Most of the time, students only use these bikes when they want to go to their classes.
- Personal bikes: well, most of the students already have their personal bikes.
- Place to put these bikes: my campus is littered with abandoned bikes so. yeah.
- Management and maintenance: The first few weeks of the release of these bikes, there were already broken bikes and flat tires.
 |
| I don't even wanna know what happened there |
So yeah. I guess that's all about public sharing bike.
See y'all next time!
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