You may have noticed in the past couple weeks the sudden appearance of hundreds of like bikes.  Dark blue and yellow, light blue, and silver and orange bicycles have popped up everywhere.  Dozens clutter corners and street sides no matter where you are in the city.  So who’s bikes are these anyway?

These bicycles belong to three separate companies that have launched on-the-fly bike share programs.  The three bike share programs that have launched within Chengdu are 1 Step Bike, Youon and Mobike.  The first two, 1 Step and Youon are utter garbage, which we’ll explain further in a separate review.  However, after reviewing each program and it’s bikes our professional endorsement is behind Mobike.

Below we’ll discuss the merits, the utility, and the setbacks of the Mobike program as well as provide concise directions for downloading, installing, registering and making use of it all.  Furthermore we’ll take a look at some of the other rules and regulations that users should be aware of, some of the grey areas users should be aware of, and easily our favorite part, a detailed look at the design and practicality of the bikes.

Getting Started

The process for borrowing a bike is straightforward and relies on the fact that anymore most people have a smartphone that is capable of making mobile, in-app payments.  Simply download the appropriate app, register, scan a bike and you’re ready to ride.

To begin with, look up “Mobike”  in your phone’s app store.  We’d recommend using wi-fi for the download.  It’s a trending app and should appear at the top of your lists.  Once you’ve downloaded and launched the app it should give you a basic step-by-step of how the program works.  However, in order to begin actually using the bikes you’re required to register.

Fortunately this process is quick and easy.  To begin with you’ll need both a domestic Chinese phone number as well as a functioning WeChat Pay or Alipay account.

Step one: Input your mobile number and confirm your mobile number via the security code sent via SMS to your phone.

Step two: Make a deposit of ¥299 via WeChat Pay or Alipay.  The deposit is security against which Mobike is able to deduct money for damages or destruction of the bike.  It is refundable, however, you must make a request for a refund which takes between 2 to 7 business days.  If you haven’t received it then, no worries.  There’s an additional deposit refund application that can be sent directly to customer service.

Step three: Verify your account.  For Chinese citizens this can quickly and easily be done by linking your account with your ID (身份证).  For foreigners the process is also relatively easy.  Simply select the option to use a passport as your identification.  To verify it you need to take two pictures, one of the main page of your passport as well as one with you holding the passport below your face.  Once these have been uploaded, select submit.  From there, verification takes but a few minutes to be processed.

Step four:  Once you’re verified you can start riding…almost.  First you need to top up your Mobike balance.  In order to rent you’ll need to make an upfront payment of any amount to be held within the app.  It could be ¥10 or ¥1000.  Regardless of the amount you need to maintain a balance within your account in order to reserve or ride a bike.  Each trip made on a Mobike will be deducted from your balance.  (Your deposit does not count toward your balance).

And that’s it.  You’re ready to ride!  Open up the Mobike app and select an area on the map.  Immediately the map will propagate every available Mobike in your area.  Find the nearest one, scan it and ride away.