Mercari, the popular buy and sell smartphone app, has ventured into the bicycle share market with “Merchari”, which is a combination of the words “Mercari” and “chari” (Japanese for bicycle). This new service will be initially introduced to Fukuoka City. Users can utilize the app’s GPS system to find the location of available bicycles. Cyclists can start their journey for ¥4 per minute once they have scanned the QR code attached to the bicycle. Merchari hopes to foster a sense of involvement by rewarding users who help support the management of the service. Customers will gain points for reporting any damage or returning abandoned bikes, which can then be used to shop online. The company is currently looking into the possibility of introducing Merchari into other cities. Source: Sankei Shimbun, 2/27/2018
Photo: Mercari
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