PUBLISHED ONAugust 17, 2026 4:00 AMUPDATEDAugust 17, 2026 12:59 PMBYSean LerThe Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore (CCS) has issued a warning to bike sharing company HelloBike for attempting to fix prices with its competitor Anywheel.
The two operators are currently the only two licensed operators of shared bicycle services in Singapore, providing short-term rentals of bicycles via mobile applications.
In a news release on Monday (Aug 17), CCS said that it had received complaints from Anywheel and commenced an investigation into possible breaches of the Competition Act.
The Act, enacted in 2004, is the primary statute governing competition law in Singapore. It protects consumers and businesses from anti-competitive practices, prohibiting anti-competitive agreements, abuse of dominance, and mergers that substantially lessens competition.
According to CCS, a key representative of HelloRide had, on two separate occasions in July and October last year, contacted an Anywheel representative to propose pricing discussions between the two companies.
HelloBike operates outside China under the HelloRide brand.
On both occasions, the homegrown Singaporean bike-sharing company ignored the overtures of Shanghai-headquartered HelloRide, and instead reported the latter's actions to CCS.
In its statement on Monday, CCS said that HelloRide's conduct did not infringe the Competition Act as no commercially sensitive information or actual price discussions took place.
However, the watchdog also emphasised that it does not condone HelloRide's conduct.
"As the two currently licensed operators of shared bicycle services in Singapore, any price discussions or coordination between the two businesses would likely have had a direct and significant impact on competition and consumers in this market," it pointed out.
CCS chief executive Alvin Koh reminded businesses to act independently when determining their conduct on the market, adding that the body will not hesitate to take enforcement action against businesses that are found to have engaged in anti-competitive conduct.
He also commended Anywheel for not engaging with HelloRide’s invitation to discuss prices and for reporting the matter to CCS.
"Anywheel’s conduct is what we expect of responsible market participants, and we want to assure businesses in similar positions that coming forward will always be the right course of action," Koh said.
Asked what prompted them to report HelloRide's approaches, an Anywheel spokesperson told AsiaOne that they believe pricing decisions should be made independently by each operator and determined through fair competition in the market.
"As a responsible operator, we therefore chose not to participate in pricing discussions with a competitor and brought the approaches to CCS’ attention because we believe that maintaining an open and competitive market ultimately benefits consumers, allowing riders to choose between operators based on factors such as price, service quality, reliability, overall experience and track record," the spokesperson said.
She added that as Singapore's only homegrown bike-sharing operator, Anywheel holds the belief that competition should ultimately deliver better value and services for riders.
"More broadly, we believe that all companies operating in Singapore should uphold the rules, standards and principles of fair competition that underpin Singapore’s business environment," the spokesperson said.
In response to AsiaOne's queries, HelloRide Singapore's chief executive Hayden Choo said they welcomed CCS' conclusion that HelloRide did not infringe the Competition Act.
He explained that HelloRide's outreach was intended to discuss the increase in MRT fares and its broader implications for transport operators, including the role of shared bicycles in Singapore — not shared bicycle pricing between the two operators.
"While the outreach was subsequently interpreted differently by the receiving party, that was neither our intention nor what ultimately occurred," Choo said.
He added that HelloRide has always operated in full compliance with Singapore’s competition rules and maintained fair and independent competition.
With the matter now concluded, Choo said that his company is now focused on competing fairly, while continuing to invest in and improve shared bicycle services in Singapore.
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