A viral TikTok video, amassing 30 million+ views, shows McDonald’s customers ironically pedalling away on exercise bikes as they eat burgers and take sips of soft drinks at the store.

Initial reports suggested that the bikes had been installed so “Health-conscious diners can try to balance their calories while eating junk food.”

However, the understanding now is that this is more of a green initiative, as opposed to a fitness one. The primary purpose of these bikes is to generate power to charge mobile devices.

The exercise bikes have been installed as a trial in two branches of the Golden Arches chain in China – one of them in Shanghai, where the video was shot – McDonald’s has confirmed.

“The Green Charging Bike is an in-restaurant experience, currently being tested at two locations in China, that is designed to inspire more green behaviours as customers enjoy their McDonald’s favourites,” the Golden Arches explained in a statement.

“The bike generates electricity to power everyday devices like mobile phones and is a part of McDonald’s China’s ‘Upcycle for Good’ project, [It is] an initiative focused on creating products with plastic parts from recycled materials.”