Since oBike launched in Melbourne less than six months ago, its yellow bikes have been found everywhere from the Yarra River to perched on parking signs.

Now an oBike has been left mid-air in Fitzroy, looking a lot like Elliott and E.T. riding off into the sky in the smash film, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.

The homage to Steven Spielberg's 1982 children's movie is believed to have been erected on Sunday night. It was there until Tuesday afternoon, when Yarra Council told The Age it was removed because it was parked unsafely.

"It's pretty funny," said one nearby shopkeeper who declined to be named. "I guess it's public art."

This is the second oBike structure to be left in Argyle Place in less than a month.

On October 15, more than a dozen rainbow-coloured oBikes were assembled in a rainbow shape and left in the same location.

Underneath were two signs, saying "RainbO BIKE curious?"

The second sign said, "Liberty is about our right to question all of the stuff we have...".

The sign attributed this quote to Banksy, who was described on the sign as "a keen cyclist".

Bob Jovanovski, of The Melbourne Shop by Lumbi on nearby Brunswick Street, said these structures were almost certainly the work of more than one person.

"How can you do this on your own?" he said.

The Singaporean bike-sharing company and Melbourne have had a rocky start, with riders taking advantage of their ability to drop off a bike anywhere they like as opposed to returning to it a designated docking station.

Lord Mayor Robert Doyle has criticised oBike for cluttering the city's footpaths, and the company recently advertised for a public relations person who was fluent in English "and local language".

oBike and three Melbourne councils recently agreed that oBike must ensure its 1250 bikes in Melbourne are parked upright, not dumped at a single location, and not left on steps, ramps, traffic islands, trees, buildings or light poles.

oBike was contacted for comment.