SG Bike's exit in April has left the sector with just two operators.
Hawker Daren Oliveiro rides shared bikes with his wife, Ms Vivian Liem and two sons, Davian Oliveiro and Arius Oliveiro for recreation and family bonding.
Through these rides, the 43-year-old teaches his nine- and 11-year-old sons road safety, route planning and delayed gratification when they cycle to have a nice meal at their destination. Bikes owned by some of these firms were left strewn all over the island for as long as several months after the companies bowed out.
The Alibaba-backed HelloRide expanded its fleet here from 1,000 on a “sandbox” licence in July 2022 to 10,000 bikes a year later. He noted, though, that the firm’s recent expenses may exceed its net earnings because of the upcoming launch of its new bikes. Mr Htay Aung chalked this up to a shift in deployment locations for its bikes – from tourist attractions such as Marina Bay Sands to heartland areas – and greater flexibility in dispatching them to other areas due to its bigger fleet.
Asked about potential changes in Anywheel’s strategy after SG Bike’s exit, Mr Htay Aung said: “Until the end of 2025, we do not want to increase prices.” She said HelloRide’s daily usage rates have been increasing every month but did not provide figures, citing business sensitivities. Ms Xie also did not disclose HelloRide’s user demographics.
At present, the country has 525km of cycling paths, and this will more than double to about 1,300km by 2030.LTA said bike-sharing services provide the public with a convenient transport mode for first- and last-mile journeys, and support Singapore’s car-lite drive. ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAYFor Ms Caitlin Loh, 24, HelloRide bikes have become a late-night alternative to ride-hailing services.
Adding that some places, such as Changi Beach Park and Yishun Dam, do not have many QR code parking areas, Mr Afiq said this highlights the connectivity gaps in the bike-sharing system. The 45-year-old has wet wipes at the ready to clean the bikes, as she has noticed many with rubbish in their baskets and mud stains on their handlebars.
This way, a shared-bike journey is seen as a subsidised bike transfer and becomes part of a continuous public transport journey. The head of the Urban Psychology Lab at SUTD’s Lee Kuan Yew Centre for Innovative Cities added that the lack of a strong cycling and bike-sharing culture could also be due to Singapore being a victim of its own success. That is because its “very extensive, affordable and convenient” public transport system has become a preferred mode of getting around.
He noted that the market naturally suffers from overcapacity as operators choose to serve the same few hot spots.In his view, the optimal operating model could be a monopoly that guarantees wider bike-sharing coverage in multiple areas, though this is possible only if prices are regulated and service quality is ensured.
Asked why the addition of e-bikes has not been considered, Ms Xie said HelloRide has not applied for a licence to operate e-bikes here, and the company’s focus is on service quality for its traditional bikes.
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