Summary of Key Points
Recently, there has been another wave of price increases for shared bicycles: the three major platforms—Hello, Meituan, and Qingju—have all raised their prices, with fees being even higher during holidays (for example, 2.5 yuan per 60 minutes on holidays for Hello). Workers, due to the necessity of commuting, have to pay the increased costs, but they have started to switch to electric bikes or public transportation as alternatives. Behind the price hikes are rising costs (doubling of maintenance and depreciation expenses) and profit pressures. There are also issues such as misaligned supply, changes in no-parking zones, and the treatment of adjusted rest days as holidays, which have turned what were once affordable tools for solving the "last mile" problem into the "most expensive mile" for workers.
1. How Severe is the Price Hike?
The price increase is not just a simple rise; it's more of a "rule game":
- All three platforms followed suit: Meituan first raised prices in May, then unified the starting rate to 1.88 yuan per 60 minutes in June; Hello differentiated between weekdays (1.99 yuan per 60 minutes) and holidays (2.5 yuan per 60 minutes); Qingju's classic model also increased to 1.99 yuan per 60 minutes.
- Second-tier cities are even more aggressive: In Qingdao, the starting rate for Hello is 2.8 yuan per 15 minutes, and a 30-minute ride costs nearly 6 yuan; in Tianjin, it's 2 yuan per 15 minutes with an additional 1 yuan for each 15-minute delay; in Wuhan, it's 1.8 yuan per 10 minutes, with an extra 1 yuan for each 15-minute delay—meaning a 10-minute ride can cost nearly as much as a bus ride.
- A "seemingly affordable" trap: Platforms have extended the minimum ride time from 30 minutes to 60 minutes, but data from the China Bicycle Association (2025) shows that the average single ride is only about 15 minutes. In other words, most people don't need the longer ride time but still have to pay for it, resulting in higher actual costs.
2. Workers' "Commuting Self-Help": From Ridding Bicycles to Buying Electric Bikes or Taking Public Transportation
Faced with the price increases, workers are taking action:
- Buying electric bikes becomes a new option: Xiao Jie, a recent graduate, did the math: a monthly shared bicycle card costs over 40 yuan, plus 8 yuan per day for the subway, which amounts to enough money to buy two electric bikes in a year. With an electric bike, not only is commuting faster, but it also allows for weekend rides with friends, "bringing back a sense of life".
- Public transportation becomes more appealing: Ku Mi in Shanghai used to dislike the discomfort of public transportation, but after trying it, she found that there are fewer people and it drops her right at the company, without the need to rush or ride a bike.
- Monthly cards are no longer so attractive: Ku Mi bought a Hello monthly card but found that there are more Meituan bikes at her apartment entrance and fewer at her company, leading to a mismatch in supply and reduced value of the card. Sometimes, she even has to pay extra because the bike belongs to a different platform.
3. The Platforms' "Hardship" Behind the Price Hikes: Doubled Costs and the Need to Compete with Better Features
The price hikes are not out of greed; the platforms are under real pressure:
- Costs have more than doubled: In 2018, Hello's CEO said that each bike could be profitable with a daily cost of 1 yuan, but now the daily comprehensive cost (maintenance + depreciation) has risen to around 2 yuan. Raw materials and labor costs are increasing, and maintenance staff need to find and repair bikes, making it difficult to cut costs.
- Compelled to compete with better features: To stay competitive, platforms are adding luxury features like silver ion antibacterial seats and shock-absorbing forks, but these are of little use to workers. As long as they can get to work on time, they can tolerate difficult riding conditions.
4. Hidden "Consumption Traps": No-Parking Zones and Adjusted Rest Days
In addition to price increases, users face other issues:
- Sudden changes in no-parking zones: Wen Wen in Beijing found a spot where she usually parked at a subway station only to find out it was now a no-parking zone. She had to walk an extra 10 minutes or pay a 2 yuan fee—she had no choice but to accept it without prior notice.
- Adjusted rest days are treated as holidays: Workers who work on adjusted rest days encounter higher fees, with platforms claiming this is due to the stock market (which doesn't rest on those days), making them feel "betrayed".
- Unstable supply: Ridding bicycles during peak hours is like drawing lots; sometimes there are no bikes at subway exits, and sometimes only bikes from other platforms are available. Some people even buy monthly cards for both platforms to ensure they have a bike, ending up spending more.
5. The Last Mile Has Become the "Most Expensive Mile": Where Has the Original Purpose of Shared Bicycles Gone?
Shared bicycles were initially promoted as a cheap way to solve the "last mile" problem, but now they have become a burden for commuting:
- Lost cost-effectiveness: A 15-minute ride used to cost 1 yuan, but now it might cost 2-3 yuan, which is more expensive than taking a bus. Monthly cards seem affordable, but issues like supply mismatches and no-parking zones increase the actual cost.
- Changing user needs: Workers no longer just look for cheap options; they value stability and convenience. Electric bikes allow them to control their travel time, and public transportation doesn't require rushing for a bike, making them more reliable alternatives.
- Changing industry logic: The focus has shifted from "burning money to capture the market" to "maximizing profits", forcing platforms to raise prices. However, the lack of improved user experience is causing more people to leave the service.
Conclusion
The price hikes for shared bicycles are a natural result of the transition from a "wild west" phase of the sharing economy to more refined operations. However, while raising prices, platforms should also consider the actual needs of users. After all, what workers need is a reliable and cost-effective way to get to work, not luxury bikes. If the "last mile" becomes the most expensive part of their commute, then the original purpose of shared bicycles may have indeed been lost.