Users report that dockless hire bikes have become much more difficult to find

Mobike, the dockless bike hire company are denying that the have reduced the number of units they have in west London following complaints from users that they have recently found it much more difficult to find bikes in their area.

The dockless bike hire scheme was launched in Ealing borough in September 2017 and in Hounslow borough in February of this year. Initially 750 bike were delivered to the Ealing area and they were a common site across the borough. Even with the extension of the scheme across Brentford and Chiswick there appeared to be an ample number of bikes available for regular users.

We have received a number of reports from users of the scheme that they were finding it harder to locate a bike within a reasonable distance. This feedback came from across our coverage area including Acton, Ealing, Brentford and Chiswick.

We asked Mobikes if they had reduced the number of bikes in the area and initially their PR company told us that there were fewer available because of the nice weather and that they were planning to deploy more. This was contradicted by Mobike users who informed us that they had checked availability at night and during bad weather and there was no noticeable improvement in the accessibility of available bikes.

However, subsequently a spokesperson for the same PR company responded to our question about the perception that the number of bikes had fallen by saying, “Following feedback from customers and after reviewing our data, we implemented an improved operating area across west and central London. As a consequence, we had to move our bikes away from certain areas. This is for us to track and collect bikes faster and to improve bike density.

“This is a necessary step to ensure that in the future, Mobike users all around London will be able to enjoy a sustainable scheme. Mobike will be working as quickly as possible to extend this new operating area, and users should see bike numbers increase in the area over the coming weeks.”

They added that the changes had been implemented in response to user demand patterns and had nothing to do with issues such a vandalism.

When we asked if there was a danger that reducing the number of bikes could lead to an even bigger fall in revenue and jeopardise the viability of the scheme their spokesperson said, “Mobike is not reducing the number of bikes, but is distributing bikes in a new, more concentrated area, to ensure that Mobikers can easily find a Mobike when they need one. A tighter network that is better used by people without unnecessary boundaries will improve our operations and reinforce our company’s business model.

“The best path to profitability for us is to create a user experience that gets everyone using and enjoying Mobikes.”

Additionally, Mobike are progressively implementing a new charge for parking outside of the scheme’s operating area – to encourage people to park the bikes closer to where they have found them. They say this means more bikes will be available within their operating area, on a daily basis.

Mobike has a licence to operate in both Hounslow and Ealing on a one year trial basis and both councils say they are monitoring the progress of the scheme. They have subsequently launched in Islington, Southwark and Newham. Some Mobike users have speculated that the decline in the number of bikes apparently available in west London coincided with the start of the scheme in Southwark and Newham in March with 500 bikes made available there. Mobike are denying that units have simply been switched across London resulting in a shortage.

Another bike hire company, Urbo, which operates on the same model recently announced that they plan to withdraw their services from two boroughs in east London saying that Waltham Forest and Redbridge are "no longer suitable" to the company's business model. They will stop providing hire bikes from 4 July.

Mobike, which is a Chinese based firm, initially entered the UK market in Manchester and picked Ealing borough to start delivering its London service with 750 bikes. Unlike 'Boris Bikes' the scheme does not have docking stations. Users are charged 50p per half hour after paying a refundable deposit. The bikes can be booked using an app and unlocked using a QR code. The company says there is a GPS system on each bicycle, helping to locate and monitor the condition of bikes. Cyclists can use an app to book and dock the bikes, leave them at a MPL - a Mobike Preferred Location - or a bike rack.

The Mobike mobile app is available for download at the Android store here and Apple app store.
As well as scheme is China, Mobike also operates in 150 cities including Florence and Milan.

The company raised over $1billion last year and was reportedly valued at up to $3billion.

The Mobike mobile app is now available for download at the Android store here and Apple app store here.

June 14, 2018