Maltese Bike-Sharing App Nextbike To Close Down For Good In Blow To Cyclists
Nextbike, a popular Maltese bike-sharing app, has announced it will terminate its operations for good at the end of the month.
With 400 bicycles across 60 stations, the ride-sharing app allowed people to use their phones to rent a bike for a short period of time, with the company also offering cycling learning programs to the general program.
However, in a statement yesterday, Nextbike announced it will terminate its operations on 31st December, citing fierce competition from other ride-hailing services and free public transport, regular theft and vandalism, and loss of income during the COVID-19 pandemic.
It also warned that current and potential clients were reluctant to use their service due to a lack of suitable urban bicycle infrastructure and a general decline in road safety.
“It is clear that there is a market for cycling in Malta,” Nextbike said, noting that it taught over 600 people to ride a bike over the past four years.
“Nextbike Malta is still of the opinion that a national bike-sharing program is necessary. But these systems’ unit economics won’t function unless the government actively encourages, promotes, and provides incentives for people to use bicycles as a substitute form of transportation,” it said.
Nextbike becomes the latest vehicle-sharing company to depart the country after GoTo Malta, a popular electric vehicle sharing app, departed in September.
Cover photo: Nextbike Malta
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