Meta-analysis suggests bike share systems can increase public transit usage.

University researchers in the Netherlands review findings from recent bike share deployments.

Date Posted
04/27/2020
Identifier
2020-B01449
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Dockless Bike-Sharing Systems: What Are the Implications?

Summary Information

Dockless bike sharing systems, enable by now nearly ubiquitous access to smartphones and other information technologies (e.g. GPS), have become increasingly common in cities around the world. These bike sharing systems may increase cycling for both leisure and practical purposes and allow people to travel greater distance to services like public transit. However, the net benefits of these systems are not entirely clear currently.



METHODS



To help fill this gap in understanding and assess the net impacts of these IT enabled dockless systems, researchers at Utrecht University in Utrecht, the Netherlands conducted a meta-study on dockless bike share research.



To conduct their meta-study the research team reviewed results from English language dockless bike share papers. Key terms used to search Google Scholar and other databases included "bike-sharing", "bikeshare" and "dockless shared bike" among other. The research team than evaluated the results of these studies and summarized their results.

FINDINGS
  • Dockless bike share systems likely "strongly connect" to public transit due to their flexibility.
  • Findings suggest planners can use dockless bike sharing services as a means to extend the catchment area of public transit and thus enhance mobility for transit users.
Goal Areas
Deployment Locations