Pedal power revival as bike-share apps race for glory

This picture taken on January 22, 2017 shows Davis Wang, CEO of Mobike riding a bicycle in the headquarters of Mobike in Shanghai. Unlock them with an app, drop them off anywhere, and nip past lanes of stationary car traffic: the humble bicycle is seeing a revival in China as a new generation of start-ups help tackle urban congestion and pollution with fleets of brightly coloured two wheelers. / AFP PHOTO / Matthew KNIGHT / TO GO WITH AFP STORY: Lifestyle-China-transport-technology-bicycle-environment, FEATURE by Dan Martin

Unlock them with an app, drop them off anywhere, and nip past lanes of stationary car traffic: the humble bicycle is seeing a revival in China as a new generation of startups help tackle urban congestion and pollution with fleets of brightly coloured two wheelers. 

The bike-share concept has attracted huge venture capital as fledgling firms wrestle for market share. Such has been the success of this made-in-China business model, which is using smart phones to reignite the nation's passion for cycling, companies are hatching plans to export the idea worldwide.