How shared bikes became unsustainable

 

The shared bicycle project was popular in Hangzhou. At first, people were amazed at the convenience and cost-effectiveness of shared bikes and were happy to contribute to sustainable development by using them. During this time there was a plethora of shared bicycle brands, and you could find and pay for a shared bicycle online in almost every corner of the city. However, as its popularity faded and the market gradually settled down, many bicycles were destroyed and abandoned, and the public began to rethink whether this was sustainable.

 

Bicycle sharing initially complies with the requirements of sustainable development. The promotion of non-motorised travel to reduce emissions and the installation of storage points in various locations for the convenience of the public have economic, social and environmental benefits. However, after some bike-sharing platforms went bankrupt, many of the remaining bikes were not repaired or recycled but abandoned in the suburbs. This results in an enormous waste of materials and energy that even exceeds their contribution to sustainable development.

 

This reflects that some projects while being sustainable during their operations, are less visible as to whether their manufacturing or disposal processes are also sustainable. Therefore, it is necessary to combine the circular economy with sustainable projects, which can guarantee that resources are used efficiently and avoid situations that lead to loss of previous effort.