Daniel Zeichner MP has responded to ofo’s decision to pull its bikes from cities around the country such as Sheffield and Norwich, calling for the Government to produce a “regulatory framework” to “make these dockless schemes sustainable”.

This follows recent announcements by the bike share scheme ofo that it will bring more bikes to Cambridge, while rival scheme Mobike is also setting up in the city.

Mr Zeichner says “Although ofo have assured me that they are continuing operations in Cambridge, I really feel for our friends in Norwich, who may have made transport decisions which rely on ofo providing a bike share scheme, such as selling cars or motorbikes in favour of the dockless bikes. This reinforces what I’ve been saying for some time – these schemes need regulation in conjunction with local authorities, and I am meeting the Transport Minister this week to pursue this.”

“The original calls for regulation came as we must ensure that councils are not left to clear up bikes which are left in dangerous places, in the way of wheelchair users or pushchairs, or even on rail tracks! Now we also need to make sure that providers can’t just flood into a city, then cut and run when their profits aren’t looking as healthy – this leaves a huge hole in local transport provision, that these providers all claim to fill when they enter the market. This extreme free market approach is irresponsible, and its ordinary residents who lose out.”

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