China’s bike sharing economy is freewheeling downhill, as many bikeshare brands are pulling out of the region. With bicycle graveyards mounting up, and a lackadaisical attitude to docking the bikes, Chinese people are beginning to ask whether the environmental cost of such waste is worth it.

While bike-sharing schemes have taken off in Europe and Asia, they’re struggling to take hold in the US, where fears around safety often dissuade commuters from hopping on two wheels. So, what can bike-share companies do to make their products appear to be a viable alternative to cars?

Bike sharing schemes enable urbanites to get around in a cheap and eco-friendly way – but they’re often inaccessible to those with disabilities. Adaptive Biketown, a scheme run in Portland, Oregon, aims to change this, letting disabled individuals rent a cycle that meets their specific needs.

The global cycling industry isset to be worth $70 billion by 2026 as people opt for more healthy, sustainable transport options. Named the most sustainable city in the world, US-based startup LimeBike is expanding its dockless cycle hire service to Frankfurt.