New app lets cyclists unlock bikes from public racks via smartphone

A new cycle-hire app could have a “massive impact” on efforts to reduce London’s toxic air, the company behind the scheme said today as it was launched in the UK.

Mobike’s bikes are collected from public racks, not docking stations, and unlocked via smartphone.

The firm has been operating in China for 16 months, where its 100 million users make 20 million journeys a day.

A WWF report claimed it has led to a reduction of 640,000 tons of CO2 emissions.

It is in talks with Transport for London and landowners to set up in the capital.

At the rollout of the bikes in Manchester, Mobike’s general manager Steve Pyer said: “It has had a massive impact in China and cities in Europe are watching what we are doing in the UK with excitement.”

Under the Manchester scheme, users pay a refundable £29 deposit to sign up, and are then charged 50p for every 30 minutes.

Mr Pyer said: “The Mayor of London wants 1.2 million bike journeys a day and I believe we can be part of that.”