2 bike-sharing apps vie for Hong Kong riders amid industry’s roller coaster development

Home-grown Locobike and mainland China’s Helloride must navigate a challenging landscape where bicycle lanes and parking facilities are limited

Over the past year, retired economist Thomas Yuen Wai-kee has used shared bikes operated by Locobike and Helloride a few times each month to go on leisure rides in Hong Kong.

So far the 62-year-old, a former assistant economics professor with Hong Kong Shue Yan University, has enjoyed their services, saying the two dockless shared bike operators offer different experiences.

“Locobike provides more support on local trips, such as a map and recommendations. Since it is local, it looks more friendly in the app,” he said. “Helloride provides more discounts and some free hours.”

Yuen is among a growing number of cyclists trying out new bike-sharing apps in Hong Kong.

The industry has experienced roller coaster fortunes and erratic growth, with the number of operators in the city rising to a peak of seven in 2017 before falling to just two today – the local brand Locobike and mainland China’s Helloride.

Helloride is backed by Ant Group, which is affiliated with Alibaba Group Holding, the owner of the South China Morning Post.

Hong Kong’s first shared bike operator, Goobee.bike shut down in 2018 after operating for just over a year. Others such as Ofo and Mobike also folded or shrank their fleets after experiencing losses.