Passage Two
Chinese bike-sharing major Mobike said onTuesday that it will launch services in the United Kingdom in Manchester andSalford at the end of this June as it ramps up efforts to compete with rivalssuch as ofo in overseas markets.
Mobike, backed by internet giant TencentHoldings Ltd., said it will roll out 1000 bikes at the end of June. After thescheme is up and running, the company will consider future expansion. The moveis part of Mobike's ambitious plan to expand its presence in the Europeancontinent. The company said it will launch services to a series of Europeancities over the next few months.
Weiwei Hu, founder of Mobike, said,"We're very excited to make Manchester and Salford Mobike's first Europeanpartners. They have long been a European leader in culture, innovation andtechnology. This came shortly after one of Mobike's most successful domesticcompetitors ofo came to the UK in April, which launched 50 bikes in Cambridgeas part of a pilot program.
Andy Burnham, the mayor of GreaterManchester, said he hopes many people will swap their cars for bikes. He vowedto take positive approach in promoting cycling in the region. "We'reconscious that our city center is a complex and busy area already,"Burnham said. "Transport for Greater Manchester has been working hard toestablish a voluntary code of working with Mobike to make sure the serviceoperates in a way that doesn't inconvenience other road users, pedestrians orcity center traders."
People using the shared bikes are usuallycharged for every 30-minute slot they have them, but details of the pricingstructure for Manchester have not yet been released. If successful, it couldplay an important part of our long-term plans for cycling in the region and formaking travel easier and more sustainable,Burnham said.
Mobike launched its bike-sharing serviceand has since rolled out schemes in China and Singapore. It now operates 5million bikes. Greater Manchester is now the 100th city to host the service.
Mobike and ofo are locked in fiercecompetition to vie for supremacy of the burgeoning sector. Their rentalbikes are available at no cost to the taxpayer, unlike those championed byformer London mayor Boris Johnson, the so-called"Boris bikes", thatare partially funded by Transport for London.
The move of Mobike into Britain's market aims at______.
A.the innovation in bike-sharing services B.the expansion of its business in Europe C.competing with its only rival ofo in overseas markets D.strengthening the commanding position of Tencent Holdings Ltd正确答案B
