More that 250 oBikes were seized by local authorities around the streets of Petaling Jaya by the city council (MBPJ) for causing obstructions.

oBike is a station-less bicycle-sharing platform company, aiming to provide short-distance transportation through the use of technology. This is meant as a means to promote healthy lifestyle and connectivity between public transport hubs.

The oBike mobile app allows users to pay and unlock the bicycle with a specific QR code given and start riding. Users can return the bicycle by parking it in public spaces closest to them. With over 20,000 people on the platform, users pay RM1 for every 15 minutes of use.

However, the policy of returning bikes have led to obstructions on PJ sidewalks, leading to MBPJ taking action.

According to an interview with the Star, Petaling Jaya mayor Datuk Mohd Azizi Mohd Zain said “Another reason why the bikes were seized is because this is an unlicensed business as we did not receive any application from oBike.” He noted that it was an illegal operation in PJ and urges oBike to apply permit to operate its bicycle sharing platform service.

“We are in support of this idea as it is another mode of public transportation and will benefit pedestrians in the city, but it has to be properly regulated,” he added.

There are currently no proper regulations written specifically for bicycle sharing operations, but MBPJ is looking at drafting it.

oBike’s marketing manager Elaine Chan said the company is aware its bicycles are being seized and was working with MBPJ to solve the issue.

“We are already in talks with them on how we can work together and I believe this is just a misunderstanding,” she said, adding that there was no licences for bicycle sharing platforms at the moment.