“We are the only player out there with a smart bike so we know exactly where the bikes are,” Bohnert said, citing Mobike’s GPS capability. “Ultimately we feel that users will choose the bike and app with the best user experience.”
Success in Singapore may not come as easily as China, where two million bikes have been deployed in major markets. The city-state has no bike lanes on roads, and few regulations for two-wheelers.
While the government plans to build out more than 700 kilometers (435 miles) of bike paths and park connectors by 2020, just 300 kilometers (186 miles) of that have been completed so far. Mobike is competing to win the tender for a broader bike-sharing project that calls for more than 200 bike docking stations around the island.
To help the company scale, Mobike is partnering with major tech companies including Microsoft and Stripe, as well as AXA Insurance. The initial launch will focus on universities, though Bohnert said additional bikes will eventually be deployed near MRT train stations.
In addition to monitoring the bike fleet, Mobike will have to contend with quality control issues that have popped up in its home market.
Stories of vandalism and problems with illegal parking have raised concerns about the growth of bike-sharing, though Bohnert argues Mobike’s unique GPS technology allows for better tracking of damage control
Users are also required to sign off on terms and conditions for use in the app to address liability issues.
“It’s really about trying to provide a solution for cities that have pollution and traffic congestion,” said Bohnert, adding that Mobike is already looking at expansion opportunities in the U.S. and Europe.
“If you look on a more global picture there are a number of urban areas that could use more bikes.”
