How to travel in China on a Mobike

Experiencing Chinese cities with a bike-sharing app

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Karen Chiu,Chris ChangandThomas Leung

Published: 6:29pm, 20 Jun 2019Updated: 9:07am, 20 Sep 2019

This article originally appeared on ABACUS

Biking can be a wonderful way to explore China’s cities. Bike-sharing services are widely available and most of the time, a ride costs less than US$1 an hour.

In this installment of the Abacus Tech Survival Guide, learn how to rent a Mobike as a foreign visitor. We picked Mobike over other Chinese bike-sharing apps for a couple of reasons:

First, Mobike has global operations (albeit with a slowly shrinking footprint). It’s active in several European countries, for instance, which means anyone from that part of the world can sign up for Mobike using their domestic cell phone number. Second, the Mobike app is available in English and other languages -- perfect for travelers who don’t read Chinese.

BEFORE WE START

Biking in China is safe in general, but it’s useful to follow these simple tips.

Whenever possible, stay in the designated bike lanes.
Go slowly and stay alert to pedestrians and vehicles around you.
Try not to ride in the opposite direction of oncoming traffic, and remember to stop for the red light at intersections.
If you’re sensitive to dust and air pollutants, wear a mask.
Finally, if in doubt, look at the local cyclists around you and follow suit.

Ready? Let’s ride!

STEP 1

DOWNLOAD AND REGISTER

The Mobike app can be downloaded from the iOS App Store or Google Play.

Once you open the app, fill in your cell phone number and enter a 6-digit verification code sent to you via SMS. As long as you’re using a phone number from a country that Mobike operates in, such as the UK, you should have no trouble registering.

You can create a password for your account or opt out by tapping the “x” at the top left. Bear in mind that if you don’t have a password set up, you’ll need to log in with an SMS verification code next time, as well.

You won’t be allowed to unlock any bikes unless you have your payment information filed in the app. Tap on the profile logo on the top left, go to “My Wallet” and select “Top Up.”