Since the launch of its electronic fence service, the e-lock Little Red Bikes have become a firm favourite among residents and visitors alike. On September 2, reporters learned that the Little Red Bike program will continue expanding its electronic fence network this year, while ramping up the rollout of e-lock models—all part of an effort to improve the riding experience and extend service coverage.

A batch of brand-new e-lock Little Red Bikes has already begun appearing on streets across the city. After dark, the acceptance checks are in full swing. As delivery trucks arrive, staff work under the lights, carefully verifying vehicle information and inspecting each bike’s appearance and performance, ticking off every step of the acceptance process. Before deployment, each bike also undergoes a full round of calibration—from a detailed check of individual components to functional testing of the rental and return system. Only once everything passes inspection are the new bikes dispatched to service points and officially put into operation.

According to the program, August saw a marked acceleration in the rollout of e-lock bikes, with 2,000 new units added to the fleet. By the end of August this year, the Little Red Bike network had established 2,720 electronic fence service points and deployed 39,798 e-lock bikes—with the total set to cross the 40,000 mark in the near future.

So why the big push for e-lock models? A representative from the Little Red Bike company explained that, unlike traditional bikes, which can only be rented and returned at physical docking stations, e-lock Little Red Bikes introduce an innovative dual-scenario rental model combining “physical stations plus electronic fences.” Within the same footprint, an electronic fence service point can accommodate far more bikes (e-lock models only), breaking through the old spatial constraints and easing the notorious “can’t find a place to return” problem—making renting and returning a bike more flexible and efficient for everyone.