Shared Bike Solution

Channel placement, rider payments, connected smart locks, and geofence dispatch for shared-mobility operations

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Solution Overview

The shared-bike solution is built for shared-mobility operators. Over IoT, it manages shared bikes and shared e-bikes through the full lifecycle. Bike-sharing fills a gap in urban slow traffic: fleets are large, spread across the city, constantly on the move, and used outdoors, so the connection has to stay stable, cover a wide area, and stay affordable.

A 4G/LTE Cat.1 cellular link covers channel placement (city agents, regional operations, fleet deployment, and field dispatch), rider payments (QR unlock, ride billing, monthly passes and ride passes, deposits and deposit-free rides), connected smart locks (live location, remote unlock, and status reports), and geofence operations (illegal-parking checks, fault reports, relocation work orders, and bike dispatch). Each bike uses 50–200 MB a month. Multi-operator coverage and a low-power mode keep the link reliable while bikes move outdoors.

Channel Placement
Rider Payments
Connected Locks
Geofencing
Shared bikes

Urban Slow-Traffic Policy and Industry Rules

The Guiding Opinions on Encouraging and Regulating the Development of Internet Bicycle Rental, issued by the Ministry of Transport together with nine other ministries, require bike-sharing companies to strengthen fleet dispatch, standardize parking, and protect rider funds. Cities have added fleet caps, geofences, and rules for designated parking zones and no-parking zones. The China Bicycle Association reports more than 20 million shared bikes deployed nationwide and more than 30 million rides a day. IoT connectivity is the infrastructure for dispatch, unlock, and billing.

Three operating constraints stand out. Outdoor mobility: bikes are scattered across the city, and signal is weak in underground garages, tunnels, and outlying areas, so the connection needs intelligent switching among operators. Low power: a smart-lock battery has to last one to two years, and Cat.1 PSM/eDRX is what makes that practical. Peak concurrency: unlocks cluster in the morning and evening rush, and payment plus unlock success has to stay above 99%. SimtoLink connects to the Gaode and Baidu map APIs for geofencing and dispatch optimization.

Technical Standards and Implementation Notes

Connectivity4G LTE Cat.1, with PSM/eDRX low-power modes
Monthly data50–200 MB per bike, for location, unlock, payment, and OTA
Location reportingGPS plus cell-tower location, with geofencing and illegal-parking detection
Unlock latencyUnder 5 seconds, with multi-operator coverage in weak-signal areas

Fit each new lock with an IoT SIM before it leaves the factory, and connect it to the operations platform, the payment system, and the map API. Geofences should stay aligned with designated parking zones and no-parking zones registered with urban management and transport departments. Monitor the fleet around the clock, and raise an alert within minutes when an unlock fails or a payment goes wrong.

Core Functional Modules

The operating chain for a shared-bike fleet, from placement through parking

Channel placement and regional operations

City agents, regional operations, fleet deployment, and field dispatch. Bikes and field staff can be managed by city and district, so day-to-day operations stay precise.

Rider collection and billing

QR unlock, ride billing, monthly passes and ride passes, deposits and deposit-free rides. WeChat, Alipay, and in-app payments are supported. Transactions upload in real time, and revenue is split at settlement.

Connected smart locks

4G/LTE Cat.1 connectivity, live location, remote unlock, and status reports. A low-power mode stretches battery life and keeps the link available while bikes move outdoors.

Geofencing and field dispatch

Geofences, illegal-parking detection, fault reports, relocation work orders, and bike dispatch. Designated parking zones and no-parking zones can be managed so bikes are left in order.

Typical Use Cases

Metro connections

Last-mile rides around metro stations, a daily necessity in the morning and evening peaks

Campus travel

Short trips inside university campuses, where student demand is concentrated

Retail districts and scenic spots

Leisure rides around shopping areas and tourist sites

Neighborhood commuting

Connections between residential areas and bus or metro stops

Connectivity Notes

Each shared bike uses 50–200 MB a month, spent mainly on location reports, unlock commands, ride status, and fault alerts. SimtoLink provides 4G/LTE Cat.1 IoT SIMs, a shared data pool, and APIs into the operations platform, with multi-operator coverage, geofencing, and a low-power mode. Because bikes travel outdoors and sit far apart, intelligent switching among operators is what keeps the session stable. The platform can also call the Gaode and Baidu map APIs to draw geofences and improve dispatch.

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Channel and collection design for shared mobility

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