City of Adelaide councillors have voiced their concern and outrage after yesterday's launch of bikeshare company ofo.

Ofo is the world's largest station-free bike-sharing scheme, with more than 10 million bikes operating in 180 cities across the world.

Adelaide is its first move into the Australian market. Similar companies are said to be looking to launch in Adelaide in coming months.

Lord Mayor Martin Haese said council had only been advised last Friday of ofo's introduction.

"We are generally supportive but we are genuinely nervous [too]," he told ABC Radio Adelaide's Breakfast program.

"I don't think the Melbourne experience has been good and we don't want that replicated in Adelaide."

Ofo Australia's Scott Walker said he was surprised by the Lord Mayor's comments.

"Elected members of Adelaide City Council met in August to discuss the future of bike share in Adelaide," Mr Walker said.

"Strong support for dockless bike sharing was raised and it was noted that operators were collaborating with the city."

Melbourne's introduction of similar schemes saw an almost competitive race to the bottom as users disposed of the bicycles in so-called creative ways.

Loading

oBike bicycles were thrown onto roofs, into creeks and hung in trees.

Mr Haese said he was concerned there would be similar problems with ofo bicycles.

"We want to see that this is not going to end up in a bit of a disaster," he said.

Mr Walker said he believed the issues faced by oBike in Melbourne were due to the rapid rollout of their program.

"We believe we have the right balance for Adelaide," he said.

But Councillor Anne Moran was firm in her criticism, calling the introduction of the new business "absolute madness".

Loading

"There is no way to get rid of this scheme," she said.

"The [administration] staff puzzlingly told us that these people can operate without permission."

Ofo management, however, said its permits had been cleared by council administration under normal procedures.

"All bikes have been launched in accordance with the discussions we had with council officers and the conditions of our permit to operate," Mr Walker said.

Adelaide council has been running its own free bike scheme for many years.

Councillor Moran said her problem with ofo was bicycles could be left anywhere, and Melbourne's experience proved such schemes could become problematic.

"Surely Adelaide should be looking at Melbourne ... and saying, 'No, we are not ready for this one yet, let's wait till they perfect it'," she said.

"Our closest sister capital city is tearing its hair out saying, 'How do we fix this', and we gayly go along and bring the same thing in."