Singapore's bicycle rental shops fight to survive as bike-sharing grows
Three rental shop owners told CNA how bike-sharing's lower prices and convenience have forced them to downsize, diversify or consider shutting down.
Three owners of bicycle rental shops in Singapore spoke with CNA about how bike-sharing services have forced them to reduce their operations, change their offerings, or even shut down altogether. Mr. Joe Chua, a 62-year-old shop owner, remembered the long queues outside his shop, but now sees idle bicycles lining the warehouse. The cost of renting a bicycle from a shop has risen to about S$10 an hour, while bike-sharing operators charge as low as S$2 for the same duration.
Rental shops have struggled to compete with bike-sharing, which has expanded its fleet and parking zones, particularly in parks and waterfront areas. Some shop owners have downsized, sold off part of their fleets, or focused on guided tours and corporate events. Bicycle rental shops, mainly catering to tourists and recreational cyclists, now face a declining market and can't compete with the low prices offered by dockless bike-sharing operators.
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