Bicycle-sharing system

A bicycle-sharing system is a service where people can rent bicycles or electric bicycles for short trips at a low cost. These systems are a type of shared transport and help cities become cleaner and easier to move around in. They are especially useful for short trips that connect people to public transport, known as the "first- and last-mile" connection.

There are two main types of bicycle-sharing systems. In docked networks, bikes are picked up and returned to special stations. In dockless systems, people use their phones and GPS to find and drop off bikes almost anywhere. Since the 2000s, technology has helped these systems grow quickly around the world.

Bicycle-sharing began as community projects in Europe in the 1960s. By 2022, about 3,000 cities had bike-share programs, including places like Dubai, New York, Paris, Mexico City, Montreal, and Barcelona. Today, they are important parts of city travel plans, helping reduce traffic, greenhouse gas emissions, and air pollution, while also encouraging people to stay active and healthy.

Even with their many benefits, bicycle-sharing systems can have problems. These include bikes being stolen or damaged, unevenly spread bikes across a city, high costs to run and maintain the systems, and concerns about how dockless bikes can clutter sidewalks and other public spaces.

History

The first well-known bicycle-sharing program began in Amsterdam in 1965. It was called the White Bicycle Plan and involved painting bicycles white and placing them around the city for anyone to use. Unfortunately, most of these bikes were quickly stolen or damaged.

Later, other cities started their own programs. In the United States, Portland, Oregon, began a similar project in 1994. In Copenhagen, a system called ByCylken started in 1995 where people paid a small deposit to rent a bike. Over time, technology improved with the use of smart cards and electronic locks. Big cities around the world, like Paris, Montreal, and many others, launched their own bike-sharing systems. Today, thousands of cities have bike-sharing programs, and some even include electric bikes.

Categorization

Bike-sharing systems have changed and improved with society and technology. They can be grouped into five main categories.

Staffed stations

Short-term checkout
Also called bicycle rental, this system lets people rent bikes from a location and return them to the same place. These rentals often serve tourists or people who don’t own bikes. The stations are run by staff or volunteers.

Long-term checkout
Known as bike libraries, these systems let people borrow bikes for several months. Bikes are often lent for a small fee or free, and users are encouraged to lock them when not in use.

White bikes

These are free bikes released for anyone to use in a city or area. Users leave the bike unlocked when they reach their destination, but this system can lead to bikes ending up in inconvenient spots. Without locks or registration, these bikes can be stolen or vandalized.

Coin deposit stations

Developed in Denmark, this system uses a coin deposit to unlock a bike. Users insert a coin to borrow a bike and get it back when they return it. This method helps reduce theft but can still be vulnerable.

Automated stations

These systems use special stations where bikes are locked until a registered user scans a card or uses a phone to borrow one. Users can return bikes to any station in the network. This method reduces theft and vandalism but needs more investment for infrastructure.

Dockless bikes

These bikes don’t need stations. Users unlock them with an app, and the bikes track their location with GPS. This system grew quickly but sometimes led to too many bikes in one area or parking problems. Cities had to create new rules to manage them.

Integration with other transport systems

In many cities around the world, bike sharing systems are connected to other public transportation. This helps make up for gaps in the public transport system. Local governments sometimes offer discounts when people switch between bike sharing and other public transport.

Some national programs partner with railway operators and cycling organizations to create systems linked with public transport. These programs often allow rentals for up to 24 or 48 hours and are useful for tourists and round trips. In German cities, the national rail company offers a bike rental service called Call a Bike. In Guangzhou, China, the Guangzhou Bus Rapid Transit system includes cycle lanes and a public bicycle system. In London, the Santander Cycles are owned by the public transport authority. In Taipei, Taiwan, YouBike is run by a private company working with the public transport sector.

The city of Medellín in Colombia has a bike sharing system called EnCicla. It is connected to the city's Metro system. Started in 2012, EnCicla now has over 90 stations and more than 13 million rentals. It helps ease the city's busy streets.

In Taipei–Keelung, YouBike stations are near all Taipei Metro stations. This helps solve the "last mile" problem, making it easier to get from the station to a final destination. Since 2021, people renting a YouBike near a metro station can get a discount when they switch to the Metro, buses, or other local transport within an hour.

In Seoul, sharing bicycles are called 'Ddareungi'. Started in 2015, Ddareungi has over 3 million users. It is especially popular for short trips near subway stations. Users can get benefits like reduced fees if they pass a bicycle safety test.

In Hamburg, Germany, the "StadtRAD" system has over 3,000 bikes and 250 stations. It is part of the city's plan to become a bicycle-friendly city and reduce car use. Users can rent bikes through an app, and the first 30 minutes of each rental are free with an annual fee.

Financing

Bicycle-sharing systems are funded through a mix of user fees, advertisements, and government support. People who use these systems pay to rent bikes, often by the minute or hour, with some offering cheaper rates for longer subscriptions. This helps cover costs while encouraging more people to use the bikes.

Ads on the bikes and stations also provide important funding. In many cities, companies pay to place advertisements, which helps keep the service free or very cheap for users. Governments sometimes help too, offering money to start or keep these programs running, making sure everyone has access to affordable ways to get around.

Usage patterns

See also: List of bicycle-sharing systems

Most bike-sharing systems let people return bicycles to any station, making one-way trips easy. A single bike can be used for 10 to 15 rides a day and can travel up to 10,000 km (6,200 mi) a year. In cities like Paris and Copenhagen, having many bikes close together helps the system work best.

In the United States, most users in 2017 were male. Studies show that bigger bike-sharing systems have different patterns of use at various stations, while smaller systems tend to have similar use at each station.

Databases

The Meddin Bike-Sharing World Map shows details about bike-sharing services around the world, including the number of bikes and stations. The General Bikeshare Feed Specification is a standard way to share information about bike-sharing services.

Economic impact

Bike-share programs can have both good and bad effects on the economy. On the positive side, they help reduce traffic jams and pollution by offering an easy way to get around without a car. This can free up parking spaces and make cities cleaner. However, some people feel that too many bikes left around can make sidewalks and streets look messy.

Governments sometimes help support these programs with money because they believe the benefits to society are important. Cities often work with private companies to provide bike-sharing services. For example, Washington, D.C. has a program called Capital Bikeshares, and New York City has Citi Bike. These programs try to make sure bikes are available where they are needed most. Some companies even reward people for moving bikes to busy areas or for parking them properly to avoid clutter.

In 2018, many bike-sharing companies in China put out too many bikes too quickly. Without clear rules or education on proper use, people often parked bikes wherever they pleased, causing problems for city streets. When the companies ran out of money, many of these bikes were collected and discarded. This showed how important it is to balance supply and proper usage in bike-sharing programs.

Environmental, health and social impacts

Bicycle-sharing systems help reduce traffic congestion and air pollution by giving people an easy way to travel short distances without cars. For example, in some cities, people chose bikes over cars up to 20% of the time, which helped lessen traffic and lower pollution. These systems also support healthier communities by encouraging people to cycle, which can lower the risk of diseases like heart disease and diabetes.

Bike sharing can also help solve problems with public transport by providing a convenient way to travel the “last mile” to and from stations. It offers an affordable travel option that can help reduce the need for cars and car parking, making cities cleaner and healthier. However, in some places, too many bikes left on sidewalks can make walking difficult. Overall, bike sharing has the potential to make transport fairer by giving more people access to affordable travel options.

Main article: Cycling § Health effects

See also: Transport divide