US ride-hailing leader Uber to launch e-bikes sharing service in Seattle

SAN FRANCISCO: US ride-hailing leader Uber is going to launch its new e-bikes sharing service in Seattle, the largest city in the west US state of Washington state, next month, according to a media report. The new Uber service, to be provided by JUMP, a bike-share start-up acquired by Uber in April, will be immediately available soon after the Seattle City Council approves a bike-share permit programme in the city in July, The Seattle Times newspaper said. The arrival of the Uber-backed JUMP would heighten the competition among the companies that’s brought 10,000 bikes, available for low-cost rental, scattered in nearly all corners of the city, reported Xinhua news agency quoting the newspaper. San Francisco-based Uber is poised to face strong challenge from three other rivals, Spin, ofo and Lime, which are already operating in Seattle on one-year permits that expire in July. “We’ll make a decision to apply for a permit once we see the regulations... We do hope to launch in Seattle,” Uber spokesman Nathan Hambley said. The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) plans to present a proposal on the permit program to the City Council for approval next month. — Reuters