国内英语资讯: Xinhua Insight: Two wheels or four, sharing is caring in China_时事

国内英语资讯: Xinhua Insight: Two wheels or four, sharing is caring in China

"We now have 15 million users in 40 cities, with more than 200 million completed rides," said Dai. "We expect to have 20 million bicycles on the streets this year in at least 200 cities. We will make ends meet this year and become profitable next year."

BACK TO THE FUTURE

Last weekend, Zhao Li biked from Beijing's CBD to the Forbidden City with her friend.

"It's environmentally friendly and biking used to be an important part of life in Beijing. Shared bicycles are bringing it back into fashion," she said.

According to BigData-Research, 19 million people used shared bikes last year and that number is expected to rise to 50 million this year.

Ofo is the biggest provider with 800,000 distinctive yellow bicycles throughout China; in second place, Mobike's silver and orange bikes number 600,000. Most users are between the ages of 25 and 35.

The market is still growing. U-Bicycle, founded in July last year, occupies three cities in south China's Guangdong Province. U-Bicycle is working closely with Alibaba's Sesame Credit to reward proper usage. Good sharers increase their credit score at Sesame Credit and when if their score reaches a certain level, they can use the service without putting down a deposit.

Although vandalism, theft and generally antisocial behavior are occasionally reported, Dai said the concept is widely popular and supported, so misbehavior is tailing off.