Anonymous wrote:https://www.cbc.ca/documentaries/documentary-channel/inside-one-of-china-s-hidden-bike-sharing-bicycle-graveyards-1.6325287

I don’t understand how this is happening. We tried to buy bikes last year or so an were told there’s a worldwide shortage.

First of all, these bikes were made in China, for Chinese local use, in large quantities for Chinese startup bikeshare companies. Some of the companies went out of business before the pandemic.

Second, the build quality of these bikes was supposedly really poor. Not suitable for US retail sale.

Third, these were not well cared for during their lives or the disposal process. They may not be very salvageable. It might be quite labor-intensive to get them back in shape to be sold. It would also be costly and expensive to ship them to U.S. consumers who would want new bikes with warranties even from a low-end discount retailer. And there might be product liability issues as well.

I have a cheap nearly new bike that I got free from my sister. It cost $125 to get it tuned up (brake fix, wheel straightening) and the brakes still squeal. Bike was probably a <$300 bike new. The graveyard bikes are below that in quality.

Now as for the worldwide shortage...that was likely caused by manufacturing disruptions due to covid closures in China. And related shipping disruptions which distorted the cost of shipping goods like bikes from Asia to the U.S. That is easing.

The graveyard is environmentally shocking but if the bikes had value, they'd most likely be moving on to new homes. Bikes are common in China...that's why people aren't rushing to mine these dumps of old broken bikes.

Anonymous wrote:“Oh, the bikemanity!!”

Ok this one just made me lol.

“Oh, the bikemanity!!”

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just because there’s acres of junk bicycles waiting to be melted down and recycled doesn’t mean those same bikes could be given to people who want a bike.

They’re junked. They’re either damaged or worn out to begin with, or if they were functional at some point, have been in the weather so long that they’re rusted and corroded to the point of being junk. Whichever the case, they’re unusable.


It is entirely possible to have a surplus of something and unmet demand at the same time.

They are always having bike donation drives to send them to Africa, where they’re in great need.

Why can’t they just sell all of these in Africa?

This is one of the most ignorant questions I’ve ever seen on DCUM.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just because there’s acres of junk bicycles waiting to be melted down and recycled doesn’t mean those same bikes could be given to people who want a bike.

They’re junked. They’re either damaged or worn out to begin with, or if they were functional at some point, have been in the weather so long that they’re rusted and corroded to the point of being junk. Whichever the case, they’re unusable.


It is entirely possible to have a surplus of something and unmet demand at the same time.

They are always having bike donation drives to send them to Africa, where they’re in great need.

Why can’t they just sell all of these in Africa?

What’s an African supposed to do with an unsafe, broken, worn out, unusable bike? And why should Africans be forced to settle for other people’s trash?

Well the Africans don’t need to buy them then.

And most of them are brand new, you know, PP.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just because there’s acres of junk bicycles waiting to be melted down and recycled doesn’t mean those same bikes could be given to people who want a bike.

They’re junked. They’re either damaged or worn out to begin with, or if they were functional at some point, have been in the weather so long that they’re rusted and corroded to the point of being junk. Whichever the case, they’re unusable.


It is entirely possible to have a surplus of something and unmet demand at the same time.

They are always having bike donation drives to send them to Africa, where they’re in great need.

Why can’t they just sell all of these in Africa?

What’s an African supposed to do with an unsafe, broken, worn out, unusable bike? And why should Africans be forced to settle for other people’s trash?

Anonymous wrote:Just because there’s acres of junk bicycles waiting to be melted down and recycled doesn’t mean those same bikes could be given to people who want a bike.

They’re junked. They’re either damaged or worn out to begin with, or if they were functional at some point, have been in the weather so long that they’re rusted and corroded to the point of being junk. Whichever the case, they’re unusable.


It is entirely possible to have a surplus of something and unmet demand at the same time.

They are always having bike donation drives to send them to Africa, where they’re in great need.

Why can’t they just sell all of these in Africa?

Just because there’s acres of junk bicycles waiting to be melted down and recycled doesn’t mean those same bikes could be given to people who want a bike.

They’re junked. They’re either damaged or worn out to begin with, or if they were functional at some point, have been in the weather so long that they’re rusted and corroded to the point of being junk. Whichever the case, they’re unusable.


It is entirely possible to have a surplus of something and unmet demand at the same time.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Clickbaity today, are we? Thought this was going to be a human graveyard.

Agree, OP needs to lead with more information, and a better title. I'm not clicking shit.

It’s a legit news site. It’s from Canada fer crisake!

Anonymous wrote:Clickbaity today, are we? Thought this was going to be a human graveyard.

Agree, OP needs to lead with more information, and a better title. I'm not clicking shit.

Clickbaity today, are we? Thought this was going to be a human graveyard.

Just to add: saw photos on FB so googled it; this popped up.

https://www.cbc.ca/documentaries/documentary-channel/inside-one-of-china-s-hidden-bike-sharing-bicycle-graveyards-1.6325287

I don’t understand how this is happening. We tried to buy bikes last year or so an were told there’s a worldwide shortage.