On September 19, several dispatchers stopped by the E-port of Metro No. 2 Hospital. Mobi and Ofo, represented by Huang Xiaohua, kept their side. As soon as someone scanned a bike, an empty seat was available. The two companies immediately sent out vehicles. Refilling... In recent days, the competition for shared bike parking spaces has been intense at Metro E City Hospital Station.
In some areas of Chengdu, shared bikes are blocking the streets: users ride one company's bike to make up a car.
Reported by Zhong Meilan, Chen Yanyu, Wang Xiao / Chengdu Business News
On September 13, near the E-port of Metro No. 2 Station, the roadside was completely filled with shared bikes. A reporter from the Chengdu Business Daily visited hotspots like Tianfu Third Street, Chunxi Road, and the Second City Hospital, and found that even after peak hours, many bikes remained. However, companies continued to deploy more bikes, leading to overcrowding on sidewalks and making it hard for pedestrians to move.
Witness
Riding a makeshift car
At noon on September 13, at Metro No. 2 Station, Hongxing Road, a woman unlocked a shared bike and pushed it along the sidewalk toward the intersection. She met a dispatcher who had just entered the sidewalk, forcing her to move aside and wait for the traffic to clear. “Why are there so many dispatch cars on the sidewalk these past few days?†she shouted, but no one answered.
In the past few days, both Mobike and Ofo’s dispatchers have been seen on the sidewalk, moving around. The reporter noticed that the back covers of the dispatch cars were open, and operation staff stood nearby. The public would unlock the bikes and ride them, while the maintenance staff quickly picked up the vehicles, leaving no space behind. Once a bike was taken by a dispatcher, another would arrive. Between 11 am and 2 pm, about 10 dispatchers came and went on this sidewalk.
“Who allowed them to surround our bikes? Our bikes can’t come out,†said a worker in a Msba uniform. He mentioned that they had to make up for the vehicles. Another Ofo operator explained that the site was initially launched by Ofo, with a small number of bikes. By the evening, three or four rows were placed. The next day, the site became usable, but later Mobike saw the data and realized the high demand, so they started deploying here, leading to today’s situation.
The “ground battle†for control at Metro No. 2 Hospital Station has been ongoing between the two companies. A Mobike maintenance worker, who wished to remain anonymous, stated that the two companies are currently negotiating to divide the area, expecting results within the next few days. On September 14, the reporter returned and found that the situation had changed. Mobi bikes were clearly parked on the street and north side, while Ofo’s yellow bikes were placed near the south block.
Using vehicles to fill empty spots and compete for parking spaces has reduced the actual usage of bikes. On the same day, the reporter noted that at 11 am, 1,023 shared bikes were parked at the location. By 5 pm, usage increased, peaking sharply at 7 pm, when only 807 bikes remained. This means that after the peak period, the number of bikes dropped by 216. The next day, the reporter found that many bikes in the corners were still not moving.
Scramble
Top sites are being fought over
From September 13 to 14, the Chengdu Business Daily reporter observed two key locations—Tianfu Third Street Subway Station Exit A and Chunxi Road Xiaolongkan Entrance—at three different times.
Point 1: Tianfu Third Street
At 11 am on September 13, the reporter arrived at the A exit of Tianfu Third Street, which was about 70 to 80 meters long. At that time, only a dozen bikes were scattered. By 1:30 pm, two Ofo dispatchers arrived, placing 89 bikes along the parking space, followed by another dispatcher bringing 55 more. By 5:30 pm, the newly deployed bikes were unused, and the number of parked bikes increased rapidly, occupying motor vehicle lanes and causing traffic jams. A police officer on duty suggested that companies should stagger the times they deploy bikes due to conflicting subway directions.
“The site is so large; if we don’t put bikes in, people will definitely do it. When you try to place them, others have already taken the spots,†said Liu Song, an Ofo maintenance worker. On September 14, the reporter confirmed from multiple Ofo staff that their deployment window was from 4 am to 2 pm. In the afternoon, bike usage was low, and the crowd began to increase, causing congestion.
Point 2: Chunxi Road, Xiaolongkan Gate
Vehicle accumulation and sidewalk congestion also occurred on Chunxi Road. At 3:30 pm on September 13, the reporter arrived at the Xiaolongkan Gate, where a 300-meter parking area had over 300 bikes. By 8:30 pm, the number had doubled, with overlapping piles and no space to park.
The reporter observed that starting at 10 pm, a large number of yellow Ofo bikes were removed. When the reporter left at 12:19 am on September 14, 310 bikes remained. To check if any were left behind, the reporter copied the numbers of both Ofo and Mobike bikes. At 7 am on September 14, the reporter returned and found that 20 Mobike bikes were still parked in the same spot, while 20 Ofo bikes had been mostly removed. At 7:05 am, four Ofo dispatchers arrived to deliver new bikes, filling the previously vacant spots.
Many bikes haven’t been used yet. Why continue to deploy them? “If we don’t take up the space, others will,†said an Ofo maintenance worker. Previously, the bikes at the station could be fully used, but recently, Mobike also arrived, resulting in a lot of leftover bikes. A Mobike maintenance worker confirmed this to the reporter.
Business Response:
Exploring a More Complete Maintenance System
According to media reports, big data from Ofo shows that Chunxi Road, Tianfu Third Street, and City No. 2 Hospital rank among the top three subway stations in Chengdu. An unnamed industry insider said that how many bikes are needed, how much they are used, and where they are most needed are all known through background data. Some companies aim to boost their image by occupying hotspots, ignoring the issue of over-deployment.
An Ofo representative in Chengdu confirmed the reporter’s findings and stated that in the future, Ofo will enhance its technology, focusing on electronic fence advancements and exploring a more complete and suitable maintenance system for urban needs. Mobike’s PR manager, Wang Dongwei, denied claims of “grabbing parking spaces,†emphasizing that it’s not about snatching spots but about intelligent maintenance and improving user experience.
Municipal Communications Committee:
Two Platforms Expected to Solve the Issue
A responsible official from the Municipal Communications Committee stated that they are aware of the issues with congestion and leftover bikes. Through the construction of "two platforms," the problem is expected to be resolved. The supervision platform aims to include data collection, enterprise service quality management, and data analysis. It includes three parts: static information about enterprises, vehicles, and users; dynamic data about vehicles and maintenance staff, including lock data and real-time electronic fence use; and monitoring platforms that can exchange data with public security, urban management, and TOCC (traffic operation monitoring and dispatching center).
"By sharing real-time data, we can monitor the status of shared bikes and implement precise scheduling based on travel data and timing," the official said. Preliminary work has begun, and intelligent transportation is included in the second phase of the plan. Additionally, the committee has started drafting a service quality evaluation method for shared bike operators, using market-driven approaches to "enhance strengths and eliminate weaknesses," encouraging companies to improve service quality.
(Original title: "Road Parking for Catchment of Shared Bicycles")
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