The bike share service U-bicycle, which features GPS-tracked bicycles members can park and retrieve anywhere, has moved its North American headquarters to Vancouver, and is at work on a multi-city expansion.

U-bicycle launched in B.C. in Victoria in October 2017. Their launch fleet was 160 bicycles, and now they have added an additional 250 sets of wheels which will hit the streets in Victoria next month. U-bicycles come with GPS, three speeds, a carbon belt drive system, and helmets. Their new bikes are 10% lighter.

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Users simply unlock and lock the bicycles through a smartphone app.

Looking forward, U-bicycle has ambitions to open in over 100 North American cities, with a fleet of 780,000 bikes. Vancouver will be their operational base, and presumably among the first new cities to have U-bicycle service.

Lime-green shared bicycles from China-based U-bicycle have arrived in Victoria. Oct. 2, 2017 - ADRIAN LAM, Times Colonist

“We could not be more thrilled to open our North American HQ in Vancouver. We have seen great success in our Victoria operations, and we’d like to replicate the success in other cities,” CEO Grace Min of U- bicycle North America said.

“B.C.’s trade and investment representatives play an integral role in helping companies like U-bicycle bring innovative products and services to the market, creating jobs for people here in B.C.,” said Minister of Jobs, Trade and Technology Bruce Ralston.

“Congratulations to U-bicycle on establishing its North American headquarters and we hope to see the company expand to more communities in B.C. and beyond.”