Station-free bike-sharing company ofo, which bills itself as the world’s largest in this category, has gained traction with Chelsea residents and intends to grow its footprint throughout the region, according to officials from the company.
From September through December 2017, ofo ran pilot initiatives across four communities in the Boston metropolitan area, including Chelsea. The company plans to build upon these initial efforts with additional expansion in the months ahead.
The Chelsea operation features a locally recruited staff, including fleet managers and mechanics with a combined 30 years of experience working in the regional bike industry.
“I was thoroughly impressed with the ofo pilot program as company officials were very responsive from start to finish,” Councilor at-Large Roy Avellaneda stated. “As an advocate for eco-friendly and improved public transportation for Chelsea, I was thrilled to be able to have the city offer a bike sharing program to Chelsea residents. The amount of positive feedback from users and the usage data provided by ofo at the end proved two things: 1. That a bike sharing program is needed in Chelsea; 2. There is much room for growth and use in our community.”
Working in partnership with municipal leadership, ofo has coordinated its launch and ongoing operations to run efficiently while maintaining collaboration aimed at enhancing city transportation options and ensuring residents throughout Chelsea can access this low-cost and user-friendly alternative. The company has also supported community initiatives, including Chelsea’s bike-marathon.
“Collaborating with local officials to bring this affordable, convenient and green transportation option to Chelsea has been a great experience,” explained Chris Taylor, Head of ofo U.S. “Thank you to the residents who’ve welcomed us into the community. We look forward to continuing this partnership, growing our business and offering more bikes to folks throughout the Boston area this year.”
Across the United States, ofo maintains a presence in over 20 cities, with global operations spanning more than 250 cities. Following its September arrival in the Boston region, the service has recorded over 35,000 trips totaling approximately 70,000 miles.
The station-free model that ofo pioneered removes the need for fixed docking infrastructure, eliminating both user inconvenience and public expenditure. Rides on ofo bikes cost $1 per hour, with parking available anywhere.
Chelsea residents interested in using the service can download the ofo app for iOS or Android devices. Users locate available bikes through GPS mapping within the app and gain access by scanning a QR code. The trip concludes when the bike is locked, generating an automatic digital receipt and route summary for the rider.