Steering toward sustainable future
Mobike has joined forces with the United Nations Environment Program after wheeling out World Cycling Day.
The inaugural event on Sept 17 was part of a memorandum of understanding signed last month by the Chinese bike-sharing company and UNEP.
This strategic public-private partnership will promote sustainable transportation across the planet in a move to combat pollution.
“China is leading a transformation across the world,” said Erik Solheim, executive director of UNEP.
The 200 th anniversary of the invention of the bicycle was marked this year by a cycling renaissance as pedal power became cool again.
Davis Wang, CEO of Mobike Technology Co Ltd, pointed out that the company’s fleets of bikes around the world have chalked up 5.6 billion kilometers.
“This equates to reducing carbon emissions by 1.26 million metric tons, or taking 350,000 cars off the road,” Wang said.
Last month, the smart bikesharing firm rode into its first city in the United States — Washington.
Founded in Shanghai in 2016, Mobike is now in 180 cities globally and operates more than seven million smart bikes, which are used 30 million times a day.
“Mobike is committed to developing a global bikesharing culture by collaborating closely with cities,” said Hu Weiwei, founder and president of Mobike.
“We look forward to working with more cities to make cycling the most convenient, affordable and environmentally friendly transportation option for residents and tourists alike,” Hu added.
As well as World Cycle Day, Mobike and UNEP will work together for the introduction of policies and standards to develop sustainable transportation.
Other goals include building a low-carbon society and supporting electric vehicle programs.
“Chinese enterprises, such as Mobike, serve as the main driving force of this transformation,” said Solheim.
“We hope to bring green travel and environmental protection ideas to more countries and regions through cooperation with the company,” he added.
The theme of the first World Cycling Day was “Riding to Change the City”, with Mobike encouraging cyclists across 180 cities to pursue low-carbon lifestyles.
Earlier this year, the company teamed up with Microsoft’s Research Group to design bike lanes in cities by using big data as a way to help the Chinese government optimize urban planning.
In June, Mobike received the World Wide Fund for Nature’s “Climate Solver Sustainable Urban Mobility Special Award”.
It was in recognition of the firm’s innovative technology and promotion of sustainable transport.
We hope to bring green travel and environmental protection ideas to more countries and regions ...”
Erik Solheim,