Skip to main content

Ofo ‘scales back’ bike sharing operations in US

Chinese bike sharing company Ofo is scaling back its US operations and has laid off employees from multiple departments. The move, according to a report by Quartz, will allow the company to refocus on markets in a bid to become profitable. The start-up plans to continue operating in US cities such as Seattle, San Diego and New York. According to Quartz, the company is also leaving Australia and Israel and reducing operations in the UK. The company operates yellow bicycles which riders can rent thro
July 24, 2018 Read time: 1 min
Chinese bike sharing company Ofo is scaling back its US operations and has laid off employees from multiple departments. The move, according to a report by %$Linker: 2 External <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-16"?><dictionary /> 0 0 0 link-external Quartz false https://qz.com/1331368/bike-sharing-company-ofo-is-dramatically-scaling-back-in-north-america/?utm_source=Sailthru&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=Issue:%202018-07-20%20Smart%20Cities%20Dive%20Newsletter%20%5Bissue:16284%5D&amp;utm_term=Smart%20Cities%20Dive false false%>, will allow the company to refocus on markets in a bid to become profitable.


The start-up plans to continue operating in US cities such as Seattle, San Diego and New York.

According to Quartz, the company is also leaving Australia and Israel and reducing operations in the UK.

The company operates yellow bicycles which riders can rent through a mobile app for around £1 per minute or one hour ride, depending on the city.

Ofo was founded in 2014 by students at Beijing’s Peking University and entered the US last year with the intention of offering a transportation option that could cover first- or last-mile trips.

Related Content

  • RMS aims for US sales with the RetroTek-MU
    March 21, 2018
    Reflective Measurement Systems is showcasing the latest addition to the company’s range of dynamic retroreflectometers, the RetroTek-MU. The MU is specifically for the US market and is similar to the best-selling RetroTek-M retroreflectometer that is available worldwide excluding the US. The RetroTek-MU is the first dynamic mobile retroreflectometer to be certified to ASTM E 1710, according to the Irish manufacturer. It is capable of simultaneously measuring in one pass the retroreflectivity of road
  • RMS aims for US sales with the RetroTek-MU
    March 21, 2018
    Reflective Measurement Systems is showcasing the latest addition to the company’s range of dynamic retroreflectometers, the RetroTek-MU. The MU is specifically for the US market and is similar to the best-selling RetroTek-M retroreflectometer that is available worldwide excluding the US. The RetroTek-MU is the first dynamic mobile retroreflectometer to be certified to ASTM E 1710, according to the Irish manufacturer. It is capable of simultaneously measuring in one pass the retroreflectivity of road
  • UK man refuses to take down fake speed camera on A1 road
    October 3, 2018
    A 72-year-old man living beside a major UK road has refused to take down a replica speed camera. The BBC report says Mike Lacey built the fake camera for £40 using drainpipe and guttering to slow drivers passing his house next to the A1 in Beeston, Bedfordshire. Lacey says authorities have asked him to remove the structure as it was distracting for drivers. The village is divided by a dual-carriageway with a speed limit of 50mph.
  • ITS World Congress Copenhagen confirm tours ahead of early bird tickets
    March 2, 2018
    ITS World Congress in Copenhagen has made additions to its schedule two weeks ahead of the release of early bird tickets. The event will now offer transport and mobility organisations technical visits in the region as well as one-on-one tours into the smart city which will provide information on how it has improved the lives of its citizens. A boat tour will deliver insights into sustainable solutions for a livable harbour while another one at the Ideon Science Park will present a sneak-peek into the fu