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1,000 out of 14,000 oBikes cleared out by firm: LTA

SINGAPORE – The Land Transport Authority (LTA) said on Thursday (July 5) that 1,000 bicycles out of oBike's fleet of 14,000 have been removed from public spaces after the initial deadline lapsed a day ago.

Workers collect oBike bicycles at Choa Chu Kang Avenue 1 on July 4, 2018.

Workers collect oBike bicycles at Choa Chu Kang Avenue 1 on July 4, 2018.

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SINGAPORE – The Land Transport Authority (LTA) said on Thursday (July 5) that 1,000 bicycles out of oBike's fleet of 14,000 have been removed from public spaces after the initial deadline lapsed a day ago.

However, it will not step in to clear the bicycles from the streets, as the bike-sharing firm "has made preliminary efforts to show their commitment to a full and prompt removal of all their bicycles", said the LTA in a statement.

The government authority will monitor the situation closely and step in to remove the remaining bicycles only if oBike is unable to do so by the end of the month.

On June 25, oBike – which previously claimed that it had over a million users here – abruptly announced that it was ending operations in Singapore, citing a tough new licensing regime.

The company later revealed that it had gone into liquidation, which prompted many customers to scramble to recover their mandatory deposits of S$19 and S$49 from the firm.

On Wednesday, oBike chairman Shi Yi apologised for any misunderstanding over his earlier comments to the media, as he claimed that a remark – which linked refunds of customers' deposits to potential fees imposed by the LTA for the firm's failure to remove its fleet from public spaces – was made by a staff member who had prepared the statement on his behalf.

His comments came after LTA expressed its disappointment that the firm had reneged on its promise to refund its customers.

Amid uncertainties about whether oBike users would get their deposits back, the company's liquidators, Mr Joshua James Taylor and Mr Yit Chee Wah of FTI Consulting (Singapore), said they would discuss the issue with oBike's leadership to find out whether they intended to provide refunds.

In its statement, the LTA said that the three parties – LTA, Consumer Association of Singapore, and Personal Data Protection Commission – will work closely with the liquidators and oBike's global office to ensure that "oBike exits the market responsibly".

 

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