Cycling economy accelerates as shared bikes head towards mor

Widened shock-absorbing seat cushions, navigation compatible phone holders, silver ion antibacterial coating handlebars, and a water bottle rack added to the frame make the purple, pink, yellow, and blue dopamine color scheme bicycles particularly eye-catching... Recently, many local citizens have noticed that urban shared bicycles have quietly changed their appearance when traveling. On social media platforms, some people jokingly say that the industry has reached a new height, while others intentionally check in on unique appearance car models. Many users express that they ride so well that they want to buy them directly at home.

 

In recent years, with the improvement of residents' quality of life and the improvement of infrastructure, the popularity of cycling has continued to rise, gradually shifting from commuting to a lifestyle that integrates fitness, leisure, fashion, social and other functions. The role of shared bicycles has also gradually changed. Since March this year, Meituan, Hello, Didi Qingju and other companies have successively launched large-scale vehicle renewal and carried out "trendy" upgrades. Shared bicycles are evolving from the "last mile" public transportation tool to a practical and social urban lifestyle carrier, entering more consumer scenarios.

 

Improving stock quality and reshaping riding experience

 

Daily commuting, outdoor leisure, city roaming... With the continuous improvement of infrastructure such as bike lanes and urban-rural greenways, the cycling environment has become more friendly and safe, and the cycling craze continues to heat up. The cycling scenes are also becoming increasingly diverse. In this context, shared bicycles scattered throughout the streets have become the most convenient choice for the public to ride. Data shows that currently, the daily average number of shared bicycles ridden in China has reached 120 million times.

 

As a supplement to urban transportation, while meeting commuting, short distance travel and other needs, the large-scale launch of new shared bicycles has brought consumers a new riding experience. Shock absorption, labor-saving, and comfort have become high-frequency words in discussions. Many users have expressed that they will specifically search for new vehicles to ride. The seat cushion fits the curve of the human body very well, "sighed Ms. Li, who works in Beijing, after riding her new bike home from work." So the bike seat can still be so comfortable

 

The quality upgrade has expanded the application boundaries of shared bicycles. In addition to daily commuting, leisure cycling and sports fitness are becoming new usage scenarios. Hu Ming, a cycling enthusiast in Chengdu, treats shared bicycles as road bikes and rides them onto the Tianfu Greenway, feeling very good. Ms. Ye from Shenzhen spent 11 yuan riding 20 kilometers, calling it a "cost-effective aerobic exercise method".

 

Behind the improvement of consumer experience is the change in the operational strategy of shared bicycle enterprises. The person in charge of Meituan Bike stated that after more than 10 years of development, the industry has entered a new stage of "stock improvement and experience is king". Many newly added features such as shock absorbers and phone stands are based on users' real needs. The new shared bicycles have been very popular since their launch on the market, with a significant increase in long-distance orders. Riding shared bicycles on weekends to check in cities has become a new choice for many people's travel.

 

The new riding method makes small bicycles more trendy

 

The innovation in the appearance and scene of shared bicycles accurately hits the deep expectations of young people for aesthetic expression, social sharing, and personalized experience, becoming a trendy urban item.

 

In April of this year, Meituan, Hello, and Didi Qingju jointly launched the "Flower Car" Spring Limited Edition project at the West Lake Scenic Area in Hangzhou. The shared bicycle basket is filled with colorful plush twisted flowers, and the handlebars are wrapped with simulated flower vines, resembling a moving miniature garden from afar. Similar holiday restrictions and IP co branded cars have also been launched in multiple cities such as Shanghai and Zhuhai.

 

The joint limited edition further expands the scene boundaries of shared bicycles. Meituan once launched the "Tsinghua Purple" limited edition bike for the anniversary of Tsinghua University, which was only available for on campus cycling and was jokingly referred to as the "yellow bike with the highest riding threshold"; Hello, we have partnered with luxury brands to launch a limited edition golden bike; Didi Qingju joined hands with the star's anime image to launch a limited dopamine powder bike. The series of new riding methods for shared bicycles, combined with customized switch lock voice, themed riding routes and other new functions and experiences, turn bicycles from transportation tools into participatory and shareable urban cultural scenes.

 

In the past, people often regarded shared bicycles as a means of transportation, but now cycling itself is the purpose, and many people rent shared bicycles to enjoy riding time. "Li Hongchang, a researcher at the National High end Think Tank Sustainable Transportation Innovation Center, said in an interview with reporters that the shared bicycle industry's shift towards deepening user experience is overall in line with market expectations. Under the competition of existing resources, the supply side can satisfy consumers' differentiated needs through meticulous cultivation, which can make cycling more comfortable and satisfying.

 

Seeking a balance between commercial operations and public welfare

 

Quality upgrading is inevitably accompanied by an increase in cost investment. In June of this year, Hello, Didi Qingju, and Meituan successively announced the new billing rules in the Beijing area. After the price adjustment, many users have reported that although long-distance cycling prices have decreased, short distance prices have increased, affecting some short distance travel. Recently, Shanghai citizens charged 30 yuan for a 79 minute ride on a shared bicycle, which has sparked heated discussions online.

 

The reporter learned from the interview that as an "asset+operation" leasing industry, shared bicycles have rigid expenses such as vehicle depreciation, offline operation and maintenance, and dispatch systems. Industry data shows that the manufacturing cost of a shared bicycle ranges from 700 yuan to 1100 yuan. Based on a usage cycle of 3 to 4 years, the annual average cost ranges from 175 yuan to 275 yuan. In addition to operation and maintenance costs, the annual comprehensive operating cost of a single bike is not less than 400 yuan.

 

Shared bicycles have strong cost rigidity, with each bike costing approximately 1-2 yuan per day. Pricing is also related to frequency of use, and if the cycling frequency is insufficient, the platform will face losses. "Li Hongchang said that the platform needs to recover costs through long-term brand operation and quality upgrades, and price changes are a manifestation of market supply and demand.

 

Shared bicycles have certain public attributes, and the configuration of public spaces also provides support for them. For example, the "Little Red Car" in Hangzhou is a typical public product that benefits the people, as it is free within one hour and does not charge for renewals. Li Hongchang believes that various regions can formulate policies according to local conditions, provide certain subsidies, and encourage green travel. At the same time, platform enterprises should prominently alert consumers to price changes in vehicle models. For example, setting pop-up reminders when scanning codes, hanging price warning signs on specific vehicle models, etc.