The Land Transport Authority (LTA) has given oBike until July 4 for the bike-sharing company to remove all of its bicycles from public spaces.

In a Facebook post on June 28, LTA has added that after July 4, it will clear any remaining oBike bicycles from public spaces and impound them. Should oBike or its liquidator attempt to claim them, they will have to pay the relevant towing and storage fees to LTA.

This was promptly followed by the appearance of a forum on Hardwarezone on June 30 asking if it was legal for members of the public to bring home an oBike lying on the street/pavement.

Some have justified taking the bikes on the grounds that they will probably never get back their deposit.

Another added that not only should the bike be taken, it be wrecked as a form of compensation for not getting back their deposit.

What does oBike say?

Given the release of oBike's latest statement on July 1, it is highly likely the answer is no.

Apart from saying that oBike is working on a solution to refund user deposits, the statement adds that oBike is working with LTA "to collect all remaining idle oBikes in Singapore and are in the process of retrieving all of them."

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="608"] Source: oBike Facebook[/caption]

The statement also mentions that it "will have further discussions with LTA if we are unable to collect the bicycles in the given time frame."

It would therefore be highly unlikely that it is legal for people to claim oBike's bicycles for themselves.

Mothership has reached out to LTA for further comment on the legal status of this issue and will update this article accordingly once LTA replies.

Top image from Stolen NTUC Trolley & OFO Bicycle