58.com to Prohibit Sales of Bikes Belonging to Bicycle Sharing Apps
Sina.com, 12/15/16
Bikes made available through mobile bicycle sharing apps "ofo" and "Mobike" have been appearing for sale by third parties on used goods classifieds platforms, with asking prices reaching up to RMB 2,000 per bike. Chinese online classifieds site operator 58.com (NYSE: WUBA) said today in response that all of its platforms, including 58.com, Ganji.com, and mobile C2C used products app Zhuan Zhuan, will work to prevent transactions involving shared bike service vehicles.
Chinese media has also reported that some users have taken bikes belonging to bike-sharing platforms out of public spaces and into their own living communities, in their own homes, and have even started using their own private locks to secure the bicycles. A representative for Mobike said that taking one of its bicycles into one's own home would be considered theft.
Mobike said that preventing thefts will require cooperation between government, businesses, and users. Ofo has been strengthening its cooperation with public security agencies and has recruited additional staff to its legal department.
A representative for used goods platform Zhuan Zhuan said that the platform has automatic review mechanisms for inspecting items listed for sale, and that it its technology can recognize listings that contain the Mobike or ofo brand names. Such content will be automatically intercepted by the system and will not be displayed to users. In addition, Zhuan Zhuan has a manual inspection and review process to help remove any illegal content, and the platform offers a reporting interface so that users who find illegal content can notify content inspectors. Users that post improper content will be prevented from posting information, and their account details may be reported to police authorities.
Keywords: wireless law Internet online classifieds 58.com Ganji WUBA Zhuan Zhuan Ofo Mobike bicycle sharing
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