Social Bicycles (SoBi)

Social Bicycles, widely known as SoBi, revolutionized the bike-sharing industry by introducing the 'smart bike' concept, where the booking and locking technology is integrated into the bicycle itself rather than relying on expensive docking kiosks. This innovation allowed for much more flexible and cost-effective deployments in cities across the globe.

The brand was founded in New York City and quickly gained popularity through its user-friendly mobile app and GPS-tracked bicycles. In 2018, the company underwent a major transformation when it was acquired by Uber as part of its strategy to build a multi-modal transportation platform. Today, while the specific 'SoBi' branding has often been integrated into larger mobility umbrellas like JUMP or Lime, the legacy of its hardware and software continues to power urban transit systems globally.