The OYBike Story

From Small Beginnings in the 1990s

In the mid 1990s, London cabbie (and serial inventor) Bernie Hanning was realising that sometimes the fastest way to get around the city was by bike.

That sometimes it would be preferable to cycle around the city in the sunshine, to be over-ground rather than under.

And that sometimes it would preferable not to be burdened with the bike, but to be able to ditch it when the weather was miserable or the shopping or briefcase got heavy, and the bus or tube looked more enticing.

A bike hire system was the answer. But the secret lay in finding a technology solution that would keep costs and infrastructure demands down.

By 2000 wireless technology was becoming a credible option – coinciding with the explosion of personal mobile phone ownership. The idea was born – the mobile phone could be the conduit to provide the “key” to unlock bicycles, without the need for bulky locking systems taking up value street space.

IT expert – and brother-in-law – Feroze Rub was the first to see the potential for the scheme, and he joined forces with Bernie in 2000.

The OYBike Concept was born

Together they developed the OYBike model which would:

• Use the mobile phone as a communication medium
• Provide a bicycle with the locking cable permanently attached
• Provide an automated telephone call centre and integrated computer system
• Make use of existing street furniture. No need to purchase expensive new bike stands
• Be financially self-supporting. Due to the low infrastructure costs, little capital expenditure was needed

Across the years, OYBike systems has grown in experience and ideas to deliver bike rental technology internationally to many cities and towns, offering a new way of travelling to commuters, locals and visitors. And we continue to do so.