Beijing, September 30 (Reporter Li Jinlei) "XXX is 50% off..." Note that this is not an advertisement played in a hypermarket, but may be an advertisement played by a shared bike.

Shared bicycles on the streets of Beijing. Photo by Li Jinlei/Chinanews

Shared bicycles on the streets of Beijing. Photo by Li Jinlei/Chinanews

Voice ads appear for shared bikes

Recently, China News network reporter found that a shared bicycle brand launched a voice advertisement, hello bicycle in the switch lock will appear a voice advertisement, the advertising content is related to a well-known home appliance store.

On social media, many netizens shared the change.

"That's amazing! Now shared bicycles can advertise, close the car lock at the moment 'buy home appliances which is strong'..."

"Hello bicycle as soon as the voice to play the advertisement is really good, I opened one in the crowd of people after class, was scared and froze on the spot."

"Will the next step be a cycle of shared bike voice advertising until you get off the bike?" "Imagine if all shared bikes became voice billboards for running..."

"Swept a hello bike, spent me 1.5 yuan not to say, unlocking also came a voice advertisement, locking again came a voice advertisement, users and businesses charged at both ends ah!"

Netizen comments.

Netizen comments.

Some support and some worry

For the voice ads launched by shared bicycles, in addition to ridicule, there are also supportive voices.

"I think it's good, as long as it doesn't affect the use, it's better than going out of business." In the future, you can also try to listen to advertisements on your bike and waive the fee."

"It doesn't hurt, don't ask you to open the lock after watching an AD in the APP." Sharing bikes to get a new profit model is also good, or rely on the previous burning money subsidies, constantly crazy

Dumping bikes is not a way to make a circular economy."

"Can ride on the line, do not consider so much, transport tools, improve efficiency, it does not bother me, I did not notice." After all, it makes its money, and I work more efficiently to make money without conflict."

"As long as it's not on the go, just open the lock and play it." "As long as it's cheap, I can live with it broadcasting the whole way."

However, others have raised concerns about whether voice ads will be available every minute and have to be paid to eliminate them.

A shared bicycle at a subway entrance in suburban Beijing. Photo by Wu Tao/chinanews

A shared bicycle at a subway entrance in suburban Beijing. Photo by Wu Tao/chinanews

Bike sharing is indeed facing a lot of profit pressure.

Because of the lack of a clear profit model, some shared bicycle companies have experienced a financial crisis after large-scale expansion of burning money, and the entire industry has also experienced a tragic reshuffle, and once the two major shared bicycle giants ofo and Mobike, one fell and one was "incorporated".

In particular, ofo is almost evaporating, although ofo tries to make money, the APP becomes a rebate online shopping website, the public number becomes a marketing number, but the user's return deposit is still far away, every once in a while because the deposit is difficult to return is scolded on the hot search, the founder Dai Wei also received one after another restriction on consumption order.

At present, China's shared bicycle market is a three-pillar, Hello bicycle, Meituan bicycle, green orange bicycle divided up the main market share.

The shared bike market is also gradually recovering, taking Beijing as an example, the number of Internet rental bike rides has rebounded rapidly. Since April 2020, the average daily cycling volume has exceeded the level of the same period last year. As of September 21, the average daily cycling volume exceeded 3 million people, of which, the daily cycling volume reached 3.559 million people on September 17, becoming a new record high.

However, the operation and maintenance costs of shared bicycles are high, and the high loss makes the profit of shared bicycle enterprises worrying, especially the limited way to realize cash, and many places prohibit shared bicycles from body advertising.

Taking Beijing as an example, according to the requirements of the Guiding Opinions on Encouraging the standardized Development of shared Bicycles in Beijing (Trial), the vehicles should meet national and industry standards, install on-board satellite positioning devices, and shall not set commercial advertisements.

With huge users and high operating costs, but the body advertising can not be done, how to survive profitably has become a problem for shared bicycle companies. The voice advertising that appears this time is also seen as an exploration and attempt to find a new way for sharing bicycle companies to seek profits.

Zhao Zhan, a lawyer from Beijing Zhilin Law Firm, told reporters that the introduction of voice advertising for shared bicycles is a normal business behavior and should also be one of the profit models for shared bicycles. However, it is true that the user experience is not good and should be taken into account.

What do you think of the voice ads for shared bicycles? (over)