User:MasterRider2018/sandbox

YoBike is the UK’s first dockless bicycle sharing company, founded in early 2017. The bikes are unlocked via YoBike’s smartphone app. YoBike first launched in Bristol in May 2017, followed by Southampton in September 2017.

History
YoBike was co-founded by Bin Wang and Michael Qian in early 2015, citing their choice to launch in Bristol because of its strong cycling culture. In early May 2017, 300 initial bicycles were deployed in Bristol. Bikes are allowed to be parked anywhere and cost £1 per hour. Whilst bikes are allowed to be parked anywhere, the YoBike app indicates suggested parking areas to promote good cycling habits.

Against early claims of illegal parking, YoBike introduced a discounted parking feature where users could get a 50p discount on their rides if illegally parked bikes were returned to the central Bristol area. . In mid-September, YoBike launched 300 bikes in Southampton.

Equipment and usage
YoBike members use the YoBike app on their phones to locate nearby bicycles. Each bicycle is equipped with a smart lock which is accessed via Bluetooth. They use the app to scan the QR code and unlock the bike, and then manually lock the bike in a designated parking zone. In addition, YoBike users can suggest parking places via the YoBike app.