Rental companies will fight for right to survive

Only one of the city's bike rental agencies will have the chance to rescue itself from the low-profit winter, as part of Beijing's comprehensive plan to ease traffic congestion.

A sole private bike rental company will be awarded the contract after a round of bidding for the right to operate the 500 stations with 20,000 bikes citywide next year.

The number is predicted to expand to 2,000 stations with 50,000 bikes by 2015, bringing more advertising revenues, authorities predict.