In a city where Capital Bikeshare reigns supreme, it seems odd that a competing bikeshare program doesn't exist in the District.
That all changes starting Wednesday when Shanghai-based Mobike sets up its dockless bikeshare program in D.C.
Yes, you did read that right. Mobike follows a system where bikes don't need to be "docked," or kept on a bike rack, between uses. Instead, users download the Mobike app, find a nearby bike and scan its QR code to unlock a ride. Each bike is equipped with smart-lock technology, non-puncture airless tires, bike status sensors and built-in GPS locators.
Washington, D.C. will be the first location for the dockless bike program in North America, and the company plans to place bikes into different spots downtown. With D.C., Mobike will be in over 180 cities worldwide in less than 18 months.
“We are thrilled to call Washington D.C. Mobike’s first home in North America,” said Hu Weiwei, CEO of Mobike, in a statement. “Mobike is committed to developing a global bike share culture by collaborating closely with cities, and the U.S. capital is key in achieving this.”
Mobike is working with Mayor Muriel Bowser's office to bring the location to life; however, in a press release the company said "Mobike has no need for public funding," alluding to the fact that it did not take any funding or incentives from the city. Mobike will also be collecting real-time trip and city data to better serve users and the city through its GPS tech.
Greater Greater Washington first spotted that Mobike was making moves to head to D.C. back in July when it noticed two job listings for the company in the District. Since then, various reports have alluded to the September arrival date of the Chinese company.
While it's unclear how many bikes will be in the District, Mobike reports that it operates more than 7 million smart bikes worldwide and supports more than 25 million rides every day.
“We are working with a number of cities across the country and are confident this successful pilot will be the first of many partnerships, allowing us to make cycling the most convenient and affordable choice for transportation all around America,” Rachel Song, general manager of Mobike U.S., said in a statement.
