Mobike, ofo users mull options after recent price hike

SINGAPORE: When occupational therapist Jennifer Lam clicked on her Mobike app on Friday morning (Apr 20), she nearly dropped her smartphone.

The 180-day Mobike pass she purchased last November for S$5 would be ending soon, and she was shocked to learn that it would cost her more than S$50 to extend her pass for the same period.

“Instead of using Mobike for another six months, I'd rather use the money to buy a secondhand bicycle,” said the 26-year-old, who has been using the service for at least twice a day.

“The whole selling point of bike-sharing companies is their low prices. If they charge such (high) prices, why should we bother to use them?” she added.

Ms Lam was just one of many Mobike and ofo users who voiced their discontent over the recent price increases for the bike passes after the end of their respective promotional periods.

China-based company ofo announced on their Facebook page last Monday (Apr 16) that it would be introducing “fresh prices”.

(CNA)