And then there were three. Beijing-based Ofo, one of the four vendors participating in Chicago’s far-south-side pilot of dockless bike-share (“DoBi”) technology, is taking its marbles and going home. The Beijing-based company, which deployed 50 wheel-lock-only cycles when the test launched in early May, announced today that it is dropping out because the city hasn’t raised the cap for those kind of bikes. On June 29 the Chicago Department of Transportation changed the DoBi permitting guidelines to allow companies to release 350 “lock-to” cycles, which have built-in cable locks or U-locks for securing them to a fixed object.
Ofo also argued that the issues associated with wheel-lock bikes could be solved by having companies “commit to operational excellence, close collaborations with cities, and rider education.” The company asserted that Chicago’s lock-to preference “chooses winners and losers instead of letting consumers decide which product and service is best for them.”
