Friday, February 16, 2018

Bike-sharing a hit with S’poreans

Source Website: http://www.tnp.sg/news/singapore/bike-sharing-hit-sporeans
By Hariz Baharudin, Reporter, The New Paper, 15 February 2018 at 06:00 am


Singaporeans and others living here appear to have embraced bike-sharing, if figures from bike-sharing companies here are anything to go by.
PHOTO: Singaporeans and others living here appear to have embraced bike-sharing, if figures from bike-sharing companies here are anything to go by.
Data from bike-sharing companies show high demand from commuters in southern and eastern parts of the country.
Photo credit: Mobike
Picture posted by Eva Xiao on 18 November 2016
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https://cdn.techinasia.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Mobike-bike-sharing-app-photo-3-750x499.jpg
https://www.techinasia.com/bikesharing-app-day-conclusion-people-assholes


Revealing its first-year statistics exclusively to The New Paper, oBike said it currently has one million active users.

Mobike said its bicycles have made 10 million trips, while an ofo spokesman said that its fleet is "growing".

According to the companies, their bicycles are used more frequently in the evenings.


Ofo spokesman said that its fleet is 'growing' and each of its bikes is used four times a day.
PHOTO: Ofo spokesman said that its fleet is "growing" and each of its bikes is used four times a day. In its media statement, LTA shared that since the beginning of this year (2017), “several fully private-funded dockless bicycle-sharing services have emerged in Singapore”.
Picture posted by Zafirah Salim on 27 March 2017 at 14:00:11
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJOr9-e6G4cpCsp0HTG_d5tMOOEeTznMj0ZKpavhXNyyRMMl3USD9ROA0RmPadwXHLvgLrB9B3oRm9cQinM9wkIVO94h-qVfat5dnpoi_-IaiEDDOPZIiywWRJskTORb5Yv2UqqLTE58k/s1600/ofo-bike-share-singapore-launch-feb-2017-816x427.jpg
https://cdn01.vulcanpost.com/wp-uploads/2017/03/ofo-bike-share-singapore-launch-feb-2017-816x427.jpg
https://vulcanpost.com/606442/singapore-national-bicycle-sharing-scheme-scrapped-lta/


Figures from oBike also indicate that its bicycles are used frequently for commuting during the weekday, with peak periods at between 4pm and 9pm and 6am and 9am.

Mr Tim Phang, general manager of oBike Singapore, said: "Commute on weekday evenings is at its highest peak, with ridership at three times higher compared to other times during weekdays."

Mobike also told TNP that its data revealed that riders here are "evening cyclers", while ofo said that its peak periods of use are during the morning and evening commutes.

As for where the bikes are mostly used, oBike's Mr Phang said the majority of its ridership is in the southern and eastern parts of Singapore, at 35 per cent and 32 per cent respectively.


oBike said it currently has one million active users.
PHOTO: oBike said it currently has one million active users. Figures from oBike also indicate that its bicycles are used frequently for commuting during the weekday, with peak periods at between 4pm and 9pm and 6am and 9am. Mr Tim Phang, general manager of oBike Singapore, said: "Commute on weekday evenings is at its highest peak, with ridership at three times higher compared to other times during weekdays." As for where the bikes are mostly used, oBike's Mr Phang said the majority of its ridership is in the southern and eastern parts of Singapore, at 35 per cent and 32 per cent respectively.
Image Credit: oBike Singapore
Picture posted by Zafirah Salim on 27 March 2017 at 14:00:11
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4M4BDuWRVM7SjNzi3uFrg_52FtUiUf-QyQaM7NLrTgnvkNRYwPsPhWwIlUxw93K0QLQoQbsGdlpgZsVNRzr-Fb2CSB37QJn9Rz4aIHPHBYadsWJZKPkSoEFfLKYzmlL8d9IPhFFbIGRA/s1600/17039295_1941866822712122_5428914386635962964_o-768x512.jpg
https://cdn01.vulcanpost.com/wp-uploads/2017/03/17039295_1941866822712122_5428914386635962964_o-768x512.jpg
https://vulcanpost.com/606442/singapore-national-bicycle-sharing-scheme-scrapped-lta/


A Mobike spokesman said the bulk of its demand comes from the universities, the Central Business District (CBD) and in East Coast Park (ECP).

Its bikes also see use to and from train stations, in line with LTA objectives to "improve first-and-last-mile connectivity and encourage cycling for short trips", spelt out when it called for a tender for a docked system of bicycle-sharing back in 2016.

Plans for the system were later scrapped when dockless bicycles started rolling out early last year.


Bikes also see use to and from train stations, in line with LTA objectives to 'improve first-and-last-mile connectivity and encourage cycling for short trips', spelt out when it called for a tender for a docked system of bicycle-sharing back in 2016. Plans for the system were later scrapped when dockless bicycles started rolling out early last year.
PHOTO: Bikes also see use to and from train stations, in line with LTA objectives to "improve first-and-last-mile connectivity and encourage cycling for short trips", spelt out when it called for a tender for a docked system of bicycle-sharing back in 2016. Plans for the system were later scrapped when dockless bicycles started rolling out early last year.
Image Credit: Tai Lo Chun on our Facebook page
Picture posted by Zafirah Salim, Vulcan Post on 27 March 2017 at 14:00:11
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJNegtH0Zw2YOv4rv66XsIqvE1R8tloIFAaoTZwz1hOefO8gSPIDys2GEqhrdq7T8evxwLrzvREGQbSgWO2Al8bT-fhg2Lr0CKSt92JkDjvUqxoUwqBHAa9Vk109qPtJO1TQ5Ebq8e2ko/s1600/tailochun-768x576.jpg
https://cdn01.vulcanpost.com/wp-uploads/2017/03/tailochun.jpg
https://vulcanpost.com/606442/singapore-national-bicycle-sharing-scheme-scrapped-lta/


National University of Singapore transport expert Lee Der-Horng told TNP that the majority of the southern riders could come from office workers in the CBD, while the big number of eastern riders could be due to the recreational bike use in East Coast Park as well as the cycling towns there.

Mr Gopinath Menon, a senior research fellow at Nanyang Technological University specialising in transport, agreed.

"Tampines, Pasir Ris and Bedok are pioneers in cycling facilities, but other towns are catching up," he said.


National University of Singapore transport expert Lee Der-Horng told TNP that the majority of the southern riders could come from office workers in the CBD.
PHOTO: National University of Singapore transport expert Lee Der-Horng told TNP that the majority of the southern riders could come from office workers in the CBD.
Image Credit: Mobike / Bike station at Republic Polytechnic
Picture posted by Zafirah Salim, Vulcan Post on 23 March 2017 at 14:37:21
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio-EcueAMWd3gV-y9w2lRs16_tQr-fhrLPoejsWrnNkcLJsbXEZfZ4jvkE_uoZxYZpF794yM6MMR1JJjbxBJMC6TTaHId0Iur36qJtKFuz_iR9N6Jhxwm-NwBXW8SZQRD9ms61HYB3O5A/s1600/Screen-Shot-2017-03-23-at-1.59.58-PM-768x769.png
https://cdn01.vulcanpost.com/wp-uploads/2017/03/Screen-Shot-2017-03-23-at-1.59.58-PM.png
https://vulcanpost.com/606223/mobike-singapore-bike-sharing/
 

The big number of eastern riders could be due to the recreational bike use in East Coast Park as well as the cycling towns there.
PHOTO: The big number of eastern riders could be due to the recreational bike use in East Coast Park as well as the cycling towns there.
Picture posted by Angela Low on 11 May 2017
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXx20m4THz7TTxrMMh4OxdqyuwP08WXwINvGfXnYMn8D0bEOg09cUgUdR5h2Z1JPHxs5Lt6bjhWykUWJiMkdSDojyy2E5hroXsyAI_mVonkbuYLmBCalpcVbz4I_IQKIWGTR_pACBAskU/s1600/guide-bike-sharing-singapore-1200x565-1.jpg
http://1dj7ai1twkif3eguo63vlxnw.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/guide-bike-sharing-singapore-1200x565.jpg
http://www.ethozgroup.com/first-timers-guide-bike-sharing-singapore/


3 TO 4 TIMES A DAY
According to oBike, its average user has cycled 1.3km and each bike is used three times a day in good weather. Meanwhile, ofo said each of its bikes is used four times a day.

Dr Lee, however, was sceptical over the ridership figures.

"If there are so many active users using the bicycles so many times, there should not be so many unused bicycles," he said.

Bicycle-sharing here does not yet have proper infrastructure, added Dr Lee. He explained that the infrastructure is still "insufficient", as evidenced by the shared-bicycles "littering" footpaths and pavements.


Bicycle-sharing here does not yet have proper infrastructure, added Dr Lee. He explained that the infrastructure is still 'insufficient', as evidenced by the shared-bicycles 'littering' footpaths and pavements.
PHOTO: Bicycle-sharing here does not yet have proper infrastructure, added Dr Lee. He explained that the infrastructure is still "insufficient", as evidenced by the shared-bicycles "littering" footpaths and pavements.
Image: EhUpTim‏ @EhUpTim
Picture posted by Tommy Lumby on 23 August 2017 at 22:15
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAYbIChAw0wc14DKG-dBnMqB3s5YwSv5TUndIgO3fpsIxwy310BU1vbUsRfCRHeKbM-9dOgyWLlMgunzqBkBMLoCjbeHVOYgpJkz3bGZUMCRg_bORu051phHu_sZNv3AqRt8Eday3NM28/s1600/ofo-dumped.jpg
https://i2-prod.cambridge-news.co.uk/incoming/article13462935.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/ofo-dumped.jpg
https://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/cambridge-news/ofo-bike-rental-scheme-cambridge-13520723


"If Singapore is to become a bike-sharing community, we need proper guidelines because it is now getting out of hand," said Dr Lee.

Last October, LTA announced that it had signed an agreement with bicycle-sharing firms here, as well as the National Parks Board and all 16 town councils, to encourage the responsible use of shared two-wheelers in public spaces, such as public paths and parks.

It also added then that by the start of this year, there would be more than 4,000 yellow bike-parking boxes for both privately-owned and shared bikes.


oBike made its official launch in April 2017 with a fleet of bikes available at almost every MRT station. White/silver with light orange features, these bicycles are the most widely accessible of the three, and are station-less, which allows you to get a bicycle anywhere.
PHOTO: oBike made its official launch in April 2017 with a fleet of bikes available at almost every MRT station. White/silver with light orange features, these bicycles are the most widely accessible of the three, and are station-less, which allows you to get a bicycle anywhere. After downloading the app and creating a new account, users are required to pay a refundable $49 deposit ($19 for students) before they can start riding. New users also start with 100 credit points, given automatically upon registration.
The current cost is $0.50 for every 15 minutes. If you break any of its rules (e.g. failing to lock the bicycle after a trip, or parking at non-designated areas), demerits will be applied. Larger offences such as violating traffic laws, adding a private lock, and losing a bicycle will wipe out your credit score, which you’d want to avoid as going below 60 points raises the cost of a 15-minute ride to $50.
Picture posted by Angela Low on 11 May 2017
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http://1dj7ai1twkif3eguo63vlxnw.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/guide-bike-sharing-singapore_obike.jpg
http://www.ethozgroup.com/first-timers-guide-bike-sharing-singapore/


Under the Street Works Act, bicycle users who obstruct others by parking indiscriminately in public can be fined up to $2,000.

When asked if the shared-bicycles are achieving the aims LTA had originally set out, Mr Menon said he observed more bikes being used to and from bus stops than to train stations.

"I also notice that many bikes are used for recreational cycling," he added.

Dr Lee said he does not see the first and last mile issue as a pressing one as for most public residential areas in Singapore, a train station or bus stop is "not more than 15 minutes" away.

The ones who might be affected more, he added, are those living in private estates as these tend to be further away from bus stops and train stations.


On Tuesday (21 March 2017), Beijing-based company Mobike launched its bike-sharing service in Singapore, marking the firm’s first overseas expansion. It now joins two other similar providers – local startup oBike and fellow Chinese firm Ofo – both of whom are currently operating in Singapore.
PHOTO: On Tuesday (21 March 2017), Beijing-based company Mobike launched its bike-sharing service in Singapore, marking the firm’s first overseas expansion. It now joins two other similar providers – local startup oBike and fellow Chinese firm Ofo – both of whom are currently operating in Singapore.
Mobike will initially be deployed at selected high demand areas around the city such as MRT stations, industrial parks, and universities such as National University of Singapore (NUS), Singapore Management University (SMU), and Republic Polytechnic, according to the company.
Photo credit: Mobike.
Picture posted by Steven Millward on 30 June 2017
PHOTO: Bike sharing in Singapore can be a cheap and convenient mode of transport.
Regularly riding a bicycle also means you’re adding minutes of physical activity to your day, which is beneficial for improving health and fitness. And as you cycle to and fro, you might get to discover the in’s and out’s of your neighbourhood, gaining a much deeper appreciation for your surroundings. And perhaps most importantly, bike-sharing lets you go green and save the Earth, one errand at a time.
Photo: Wang Tom / www.123rf.com
Picture posted by Alevin Chan on 05 June 2017
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http://www.shape.com.sg/sites/default/files/article/2017/06/Bike%20sharing%20in%20Singapore%20-%20obike%20mobike%20and%20ofo.jpg
http://www.shape.com.sg/lifestyle/bike-sharing-singapore-which-cheapest-option/

By Hariz Baharudin, Reporter, The New Paper, 15 February 2018 at 06:00 am
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Reference
[1] Hariz Baharudin, Reporter, The New Paper, Bike-sharing a hit with S’poreans, posted on 15 February 2018 at 06:00 am, http://www.tnp.sg/news/singapore/bike-sharing-hit-sporeans

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