Man helps return damaged rental bicycles
SINGAPORE: A sea of yellow and orange bicycles in public spaces here shows how the city-state has embraced the shared-bike culture since major operators like Chinese firms Ofo and Mobike first rode in a year ago.
Bulgarian piano teacher Zhivko Girginov, 32, who has lived here for nine years, is not impressed by the broken bicycles he found abandoned by roads and footpaths.
“My friends complained there were damaged bikes and there was nothing that can be done. But I did not agree.”
He decided to pull together a team of like-minded individuals to round up and return the bikes to the respective companies’ warehouses. Started in September, Girginov’s Volunteer Bike Patrol initiative has collected more than 400 damaged bikes.
The group gathers broken bicycles in one neighbourhood, moving them to a central location. Girginov then rents a lorry for US$150 (RM598) a trip to pick up and carry the bikes back.
He said expansion might prompt him to consider crowdfunding or seek sponsors.
Singapore’s shared-bicycle operators, Ofo, Mobike and domestic firm oBike, appreciate his work.
“We’re talking to Zhivko about working together to build an even stronger bikesharing environment,” said Sharon Meng, Mobike Singapore’s country manager, adding that Mobike had given Girginov an unlimited usage pass to help him retrieve its bikes. Reuters