Chinese prosecutors tell bike-sharing firms: clean up your game or we will act
Shenzhen officials warn the city’s main start-ups they must do more to tackle the problems that have plagued the industry
Bike-sharing businesses in one of China’s major tech hubs have been told to tackle the wider problems the services are causing, with prosecutors warning they will be keeping a close watch on the industry.
The industry has boomed in the past couple of years in China, changing the commuting habits of millions of people. But there has also been a flood of complaints, from concerns about safety and congestion, to grumbles about illegally parked bikes blocking traffic and pathways, and the risk of customers losing their deposit if providers go bust.
On Thursday officials from the prosecution service in the southern city of Shenzhen along with members of the city’s municipal transport committee and urban management bureau summoned executives from the seven major local players – including Mobike and Ofo – to a meeting to discuss the issue, state-run news website Southcn.com reported.
Members of the local people’s congress were also required to send delegates to observe the meeting.
Officials told the executives their companies must stop neglecting the effect the industry was having on society, adding that they should also tackle excessive competition in the sector.