When combined, 共享 (gòngxiǎng) means “to share” or “shared,” a key term in the modern “sharing economy.” 单车 (dānchē) is a common word for “bicycle” (literally “single vehicle”). Therefore, 共享单车 (gòngxiǎng dānchē) literally and logically translates to “shared bicycle.”
Once known as the “Kingdom of Bicycles” (自行车王国 - zìxíngchē wángguó), China saw a decline in cycling with the rise of cars. 共享单车 represents a massive, high-tech resurgence of the bicycle in public life. It's more than just transportation; it's a pillar of China's modern digital ecosystem. The phenomenon is inseparable from the widespread adoption of mobile payments like Alipay (支付宝) and WeChat Pay (微信支付). The ability to seamlessly scan a QR code, pay a tiny fee, and ride away is a daily demonstration of China's cashless society. Comparison to Western Bike-Sharing: Unlike systems like New York's Citi Bike or London's Santander Cycles, which require bikes to be picked up from and returned to specific docks, Chinese 共享单车 are famously dockless. You can pick one up wherever you find it and leave it at your destination (within designated areas). This offers unparalleled convenience but also led to major social issues, such as bikes clogging sidewalks and the infamous “bike graveyards” (单车坟场 - dānchē fénchǎng) where abandoned and broken bikes were piled up after the market's initial, hyper-competitive boom and bust cycle. This contrast highlights a different approach to public space, regulation, and tech growth.
Using a 共享单车 is a quintessential modern China experience. The term is used constantly in daily conversation.