Hangzhou PSA: Hellobike E-Scooters? Hard Pass. #AvoidTheTrap

[Priscilla Marquardt IV]

Friends, when you visit Hangzhou, I must vent about this ridiculous thing!

• The Hello e-bikes, which you can see everywhere, require a deposit of 99 RMB and charge 38 RMB per hour.
• You might come across many of these bikes parked on the roadside and think to yourself, "Great! I'll just park mine here too." But beware, that's a common pitfall!
• This situation is quite different from other cities: in Hangzhou, shared e-bikes like these must be returned to either where they originally were borrowed or specific return points designated by the app. Frankly speaking, these designated points are often far from scenic areas or convenient locations.
• If you lock your bike but don't return it at designated spots, the system continues to consider you as renting the bike and charges you, which may even end up being more costly than taking a taxi!
• I've never seen such a "clever" way of making money, feeling like they're cheating tourists. Please exercise caution!
• @Hangzhou Cultural Tourism Bureau (the authority managing tourism in Hangzhou), proper governance should be strictly implemented; there have been numerous complaints online, the experience is terrible.

• *Important Reminder: Regarding the Use of Hello e-bikes in Hangzhou
  • Potential Problem:
    • Thinking you're free to park anywhere when you see e-bikes by the road? Big mistake!
    • Consequence: If not parked at the initial borrowing location or in one of those "designated return zones" on their app, even though you locked the bike, the system will assume the renting still hasn't ended, continuing to add costs that exceed the fare for a taxi trip.
  • To Avoid Trouble:
    • Before Renting Bikes: Before you scan the QR code to rent, thoroughly study the bike returning rules on its app, especially confirm the locations of the designated return zones to see if they’re convenient enough for you.
    • Returning Bikes: Ensure you return the bike to an allowed area, confirming with the app that the order has indeed ended successfully.
    • Alternative Options: If you find these rules too complex or the designated return points too distant, my advice is to avoid using these e-bikes altogether and instead opt for other transportation methods such as bus, metro, or direct taxi rides to prevent headaches.

[Sadie Ortiz-Waelchi]

Exactly. I only managed to get my refund after calling the Shanghai 12315 consumer hotline, because Hello Inc. (哈啰) is a Shanghai-based company. It took a lot of back-and-forth and being redirected before I could finally get in touch with them.

[Elaine Boyle PhD]

It's completely lawless!