China-based bicycle-sharing platform Mobike announced Monday (UK time) the launch of bike-sharing services in the UK cities of Manchester and Salford on June 29.
Without any need for public funding, Mobike will launch with an initial 1,000 bikes, according to a statement the company sent to the Global Times. Mobike has agreed to a voluntary code of working with Manchester City Council, Salford City Council and Transport for Greater Manchester, the statement continued.
Manchester and Salford are the company's first host cities outside of Asia and the move officially kicks off Mobike's European expansion.
"Our aim is to be responsible, sustainable and innovative. We're confident that Manchester and Salford and their residents will immediately see the benefits of our services, and the city will become a showcase for the urban transformation that is possible when cycling usage rises, and city planning leverages smart data," said Steve Pyer, general manager of Mobike UK.
The company is in talks with many other cities around Europe, he said.
Since its launch in April 2016, Mobike has expanded across China and Singapore, and Manchester and Salford are the 100th cities to get the service. The company operates more than 5 million smart bikes and supports more than 20 million rides every day.
(Source: Global Times)
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