Bike-Sharing Is Taking Off Around the World

Over the past decade, more and more cities around the globe have adopted so called bike-sharing systems, which enable citizens and visitors to pick up bicycles at some point in the city, use them and leave them at another point in exchange for a small fee. The pricing structure of bike-sharing systems is often designed to encourage short-term use, which makes them a great option for urban dwellers who want to get from one point to another.

Bicycle-sharing systems have proven effective in managing urban traffic, which is why they are especially popular in big cities and densely populated areas. By the end of 2014, bike-sharing systems were available in 855 cities around the world. According to data compiled by Russell Meddin for MetroBike, a consultancy specialized on bike-sharing, the global bike-share fleet comprises almost one million bicycles, the majority of which are located in China.