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In conclusion, bicycle sharing has gained popularity as a form of transportation in urban areas all over the world. It promotes sustainability, reduces traffic congestion, and offers an affordable and healthy commuting option for people. Singapore-based company oBike has made a significant impact by revolutionizing the bicycle-sharing industry with its dockless system that eliminates the need for docking stations. Despite its success, oBike has encountered difficulties with issues such as parking and vandalism. However, it is undeniable that oBike also has had a significant impact on the bicycle-sharing industry.

The company's presence has led to the growth of bike-sharing companies in Asia and Southeast Asia and has also influenced the expansion of bike-sharing in Europe, the United States, China ad many other countries. Bicycle sharing and companies such as oBike play a crucial role in promoting sustainable transportation and reducing carbon emissions. Bicycle sharing and companies such as oBike play a crucial role in promoting sustainable transportation and reducing carbon emissions. As urban areas become increasingly overcrowded, bicycle sharing remains a viable solution to the transportation problem.

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There are a few ways to encourage the utilization of bicycle-sharing among people.

1) Promote the benefits

Bicycle sharing may increase in popularity if people are made aware of the many ways in which it can help them save money, get more exercise, and reduce the effect on the environment. Raising interest and participation in the program could be aided by promoting these advantages through strategic advertising and community organizing.

2) Offer incentives

To encourage people to use bikes more frequently is providing incentives such as discounts or rewards for regular users. One way to encourage greater usage is by offering incentives such as a free ride after a certain number of trips or discounts for regular users. Therefore, this will attract other new users to use bicycle-sharing.

3) Increased accessibility

Ensuring there are sufficient bike stations and bikes available in strategic areas all around the city. This will enable people to easily access the bikes whenever they require them. Expanding the bicycle sharing program to include more stations and bikes, as well as implementing innovations such as "pop-up" stations in high-traffic areas, could assist improve accessibility.

4) Partner with local business

Partnering with local businesses can be a great way to promote the use of bicycle-sharing programs. By sponsoring bike stations or offering discounts to employees who use the bikes, more people may be encouraged to take advantage of this eco-friendly transportation option. To enhance the visibility of the program and encourage usage, businesses could consider advertising on bikes.

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1) Environmental benefits
Biking is a mode of transportation that is beneficial for the environment as it enables people to travel without releasing greenhouse gases, unlike buses and cars. People who use bike-sharing programs might use them to get around their neighborhoods. This will help to reduce the number of motor vehicles on the road, thereby reducing emissions and fostering a culture of environmentally friendly mobility. Therefore, air quality improves, and people's health and well-being increase as cycling becomes more popular around the world.

2) Convenient
Bicycle-sharing system is convenient as it provides an easy-to-use system by enabling users to pick up and return bikes at any of the many bike-sharing stations throughout a city. People do not have to think about maintenance and the difficulty to put the bike like other road transportation. Other than that, bike-sharing is becoming more popular in places with a lot of people. This is one reason why bike-sharing systems are often found in busy places. Driving a car on streets that are crowded can be stressful and annoying. Thus, this makes it easy to use bike-sharing in that kind of places.

3) Health benefits
Cycling is beneficial for the physical and mental activity that can enhance an individual's general health through regular engagement. Research indicates that cycling can enhance cardiovascular health, aid in preventing the impact of depression and anxiety, and decrease the risk of obesity and related health issues. Therefore, bike-sharing programs promote a healthier lifestyle for communities. In fact, wellness, fitness, and health are essential parts of a healthy life. Thereby, bicycle-sharing may increase physical activity and reduce reliance on automobiles.

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The bike-sharing company oBike, which is based in Singapore, is continuing to grow in the South Korean market by launching in the cities of Chuncheon and Ulsan. Since launching in the country in June 2017, the company's bike fleet has consistently grown to approximately 10,000 bikes in 14 cities and provinces. oBike has already launched in Seoul, Incheon, and Suwon.

Using the oBike app, users can locate and unlock bikes through the company's smartphone-based bicycle-sharing service. The bikes are equipped with GPS tracking and can be secured and unlocked without docking stations. The service charges users based on their total usage time, with no minimum rental period.

oBike's growth in South Korea has been supported by partnerships with local companies like SK Telecom and T World Direct, who have assisted in promoting the service to their customers. The company also corporates with the government to ensure that the bicycles are parked in provided locations and adhere to local regulations.

Issues concerning safety and regulation have arisen in response to the rising popularity of bike-sharing programs in South Korea. There have been reports of vandalism and improper parking, prompting several municipalities to pass legislation requiring helmets and proper bike parking.

In short, oBike in South Korea is becoming increasingly popular due to its convenient and affordable service, complemented by a mobile app that makes renting a bike easier. It has proven popular with commuters, students, and visitors alike.

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Bicycle sharing is a popular transportation option that promotes nonmotorized transport and reduces automobile dependence. The largest bicycle-sharing program in the world is currently located in Hangzhou, China. Hangzhou, China has one of the most successful bicycle-sharing programs. The "Hangzhou Bike-Sharing" program, initiated in 2008, has grown to be the world's largest bike-sharing program, with over 86,000 bicycles for rent and 3,000 bike stations. The program's success can be attributed to numerous factors.

The city government made significant investments in constructing bike lanes and bike parking infrastructure. The availability of bikes facilitated short-distance travel within the city, providing ease and convenience to users. Additionally, the program was cost-effective, with hourly rates starting at 1 yuan, equivalent to approximately 15 cents. The increased affordability of bikes facilitated their utilization among individuals from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds, thereby encouraging a shift from automobiles and public transportation to cycling.

The program received plenty of funding from local businesses, which sponsored several bike stations and advertised on bikes. This helped the financial sustainability of the program by balancing its operational costs. The program has achieved significant success, with approximately 10 million daily bike trips. The implementation of this measure has resulted in a reduction of traffic congestion and air pollution within the city, thereby enhancing the quality of life for residents and workers.

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oBike is a bike-sharing company that was established in Singapore in 2017. The company's focus is to offer an affordable and environmentally friendly form of transportation to both locals and tourists. In the year 2017, oBike has expanded to Malaysia and Thailand. Kuala Lumpur was listed as one of the cities that had active users for oBike service (Cheetah Lab, 2018). The company was established in Malaysia and gained rapid popularity among the urban population shortly after its establishment.

Based on Nathan (2017), there was an increment in the introduction of bike-share schemes in Malaysia. It was due to the rising prices of fuel, traffic congestion and overpriced parking rates. Thus, bike sharing became a solution to these issues and it induced more people to use oBike as their transportation (Nathan, 2017). At first, oBike's operations were limited to specific areas in Kuala Lumpur, including Bangsar, Bukit Bintang, and KLCC.

However, due to the company's rapid growth in the country, the company eventually expanded its bike transportation to several other influential cities, including Johor Bahru, Penang, and Klang Valley. The company marketed itself as an easy way to get through heavy city traffic and enjoy the beauty of Malaysia's urban scenery. Despite facing challenges, oBike continued in providing its services and even implemented new features to improve the user experience.

Despite dealing with challenges, oBike managed to attract a significant number of users and revive interest in the bike-sharing industry. In 2018, oBike exited the Malaysian market due to challenging economic conditions and the company's inability to sustain profitability. Although the service has been discontinued, it has opened opportunities for the growth of more bike-sharing companies in Malaysia.

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In my point of view, I think bicycle-sharing can be a viable transportation option in Malaysia, especially in a city with a lot of traffic. However, Malaysia must consider various factors if it intends to establish bicycle-sharing as an official mode of transportation on all roadways, and all parties involved in its implementation should take these factors into account such as safety, convenience, and accessibility to cycling infrastructure. In addition, to ensure a safer experience while cycling, it is advisable to research and follow safety protocols such as wearing helmets, and using lights, and reflectors as well. Several cities in Malaysia have established limited bike lanes, and the government has introduced various initiatives, including bike-sharing programs, to promote cycling as an option of transportation. It is important to consider that cycling may present certain challenges, such as road safety concerns, especially in heavily urbanized areas, and extreme weather conditions like heavy rain and hot, humid weather.

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DISADVANTAGES

1) First-timer cyclists

Biking is made more convenient for people of all skill levels through bike share programs. While some people may be familiar with urban riding, others may be experiencing it for the first time. People who only have experience cycling on quiet residential streets or in parks may be unprepared for the challenges of urban cycling. These people endanger the lives of everyone else on the road. Also, tourists and people who aren't familiar with the plan of the city will have trouble getting around. Thus, even though bicycle-sharing programs are generally safe, accidents can happen despite their best safety precautions.

2) No Helmets

In general, if we own a bike in any city, it is important to also own a helmet. It is common knowledge among knowledgeable urban cyclists that wearing a helmet can potentially prevent serious injury or even save one's life, even in the event of a minor accident. Therefore, it is recommended that all cyclists wear one. As we can see, actual bicycle-sharing programs have reported that only about 20 percent of cyclists wear helmets when using shared bicycles. Failing to wear a helmet while riding in any city can be fatal, and it also places a significant responsibility on drivers in the event of an accident. Thus, this may also give negative impacts on the bike share program for other cyclists.

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The tropical climate

As we can see, people in our country are used to cycling even though the weather is always hot and humid.  Many tropical countries exhibit strong cycling that is unhindered by the weather. However, the current challenge is that Malaysians have become accustomed to the comfort of air-conditioned vehicles to escape the El Nino heatwave. Even motorcyclists may reconsider cycling in hot or rainy weather conditions.

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Our Attitude Towards Public Property

Although there are notable distinctions between Singaporeans and Malaysians, they may share a similarity in this particular aspect which is the challenge they have faced from irresponsible users. Many young people nowadays lack a sense of civic responsibility for public property, which could lead to widespread vandalism such as damaging the rented bicycles. Some irresponsible users have also left their bicycles in dangerous spots that block the road and cause problems for others. As a result, oBike's Singapore has addressed the issue of vandalism by installing tracking chips on their bicycles. oBike has adopted various measures to encourage responsible bike riding, including the imposition of strict penalties.

https://youtube.com/shorts/PTSHjS64VQw?feature=share

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oBike was a stationless bicycle-sharing company founded by Shi Yi and Edward Chen in 2016 in Singapore. At its peak, the company had a fleet of over 10 million bicycles and had rapidly expanded to cities in Asia, Europe, and Australia. oBike operated in over 40 cities across 24 countries which including Malaysia, Taiwan, Korea, Thailand, Germany, Italy, United Kingdom, Australia, the Netherlands, French, Switzerland and Sweden (Howells, 2017).

However, oBike faced many challenges in the highly competitive bike-sharing market, such as vandalism, theft, and regulatory hurdles. The bikes have a Bluetooth lock built in, so users can leave them anywhere after a ride, not just at a docking point. Users may find and rent bikes with the help of a mobile app. However, oBike only started doing business in Singapore in February 2017, and it shut down on June 25, 2018, due to bankruptcy. Most countries no longer use oBike anymore, but some of its bikes can still be found in a few places around the world.

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An Overview of the Bike-sharing Industry

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An Overview of the Bike-sharing Industry

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Bike-sharing is a growing industry that allows people to rent bikes for short periods of time whether by the hour or the day.  The users then can return them to any bike station in the system. Commonly, bike-sharing systems are comprised of a fleet of bicycles that are placed at self-service stations and made available for use by people in the public at large.

Bike-sharing programs typically consist of a network of self-service bike stations, at which users can pick up and drop off bikes by using a smartphone app or a key card. Bike-sharing systems are often managed by private firms or the government, and their operations are funded by a combination of fees, volunteers, charity, ads, commercial interest groups, and government subsidies.

Bike-sharing is a well-known form of transportation in many places across the world since it is an alternative to traditional modes of transportation that is not only affordable but also convenient. In addition, it also has a low effect on the environment and is friendly to bikers.

Some bike-sharing systems make use of docked bike stations, which require users to return the bikes back to a specific station in order to end their rental period. Other systems use dockless bikes, which are bicycles that do not require a specific docking station and which may be parked and locked anywhere within a certain service area. Many bike-sharing systems now have mobile apps that can be used to find nearby bikes and stations, view rental history, and make payments.

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Issues that led to oBike's failure in Malaysia

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Issues that led to oBike's failure in Malaysia

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No Interconnected Biking System

The bike areas are connected by highways, roads, walkways, and buildings that are not bike-friendly. Cyclists often face challenges in identifying the appropriate route they can ride on, as bikes occupy an awkward space between cars and pedestrians. The bicycle is still used as a form of transportation, but it is much slower than a motorized vehicle on a non-jammed day. For a smooth ride, a cyclist might have to move between two sides that might look at the cyclist and think, "Do you really belong here?"

In more bike-friendly countries, there are bike lanes that run between the pedestrian paths and the roads for motorized vehicles. Because of the extensive network of bike lanes, cycling has become a practical mode of transportation in cities like Melbourne and Amsterdam. However, in Malaysia, many roads and sidewalks would have to be completely redone to make space for bikes.

https://youtu.be/f_BnPaV7x_g

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Step 1: Download the oBike app

Step 2: Users needed to have an internet connection and Bluetooth enabled on their mobile device to enable unlocking the desired bicycle by scanning a QR code located on the bicycle.

Step 3: To utilize the oBike service, users must provide their credit card information and make a deposit through the app, as the service is already fee-based.

Step 4: If the previous steps were successful, the lock on the back wheel will automatically open. They are able to get on their bikes and head toward their destinations.

Step 5: When users had completed their ride, users were required to manually lock and park the bike in any available parking spot for the subsequent user.

Step 6: During the process of locking the bike, it is crucial for the user to confirm the availability of both Bluetooth and internet connectivity. This is necessary for the oBike system to accurately record the completion of the ride and appropriately determine the rental fee.

Step 7: If there is a case of violations were reported, a credit system was implemented to impose penalties on the offending user after a certain number of times. In severe cases, the user could face suspension from the platform.

Here is the video to show the ways to use oBike in Malaysia:
https://youtu.be/PmllWckrCCk
https://youtu.be/zmtJhDfPR9s