by Jaelen Loche | Nov 15, 2012 |
Authors: Susan A. Shaheen, Ph.D., Adam P. Cohen, and Elliot W. Martin, Ph.D. Date: November 2012 Abstract: Public bikesharing—the shared use of a bicycle fleet—is an innovative mobility strategy that has recently emerged in major North American cities. Bikesharing systems typically position bicycles throughout an urban environment, among a network of docking stations, for immediate access. Approximately five years ago, information technology (or IT)-based bikesharing services began to emerge in North America. Since 2007, 27 IT-based programs have been deployed–26 are operational and one is now defunct. Bikesharing growth potential in North America is examined on the basis of a survey of all 15 IT-based public bikesharing systems operating in the United States and all four programs operating in Canada, as of January 2012. These programs account for 172,070 users and 5,238 bicycles and 44,352 users and 6,235 bicycles in the United States and Canada, respectively. This paper reviews early operator understanding of North American public bikesharing and discusses emerging trends for prospective program start-ups...
by Jaelen Loche | Oct 6, 2011 |
Author: Susan Shaheen and Stacy Guzman Date: Fall 2011 Abstract: Bikesharing has evolved greatly since the first program was launched in the Netherlands in the mid-1960s. As of May 2011, there were an estimated 136 bikesharing programs in 165 cities around the world, with 237,000 bikes on the streets. In the Americas, bikesharing activity has spread to Canada, Mexico, the US, Argentina, Brazil, and Chile. Asia, which represents the fastest-growing bikesharing market today, has programs in China, South Korea, and Taiwan....
by Jaelen Loche | Feb 6, 2011 |
Authors: Susan A. Shaheen, Ph.D., Madonna Camel, and Meera Velu Date: February 2011 Abstract: Bikesharing, the short-term rental of a shared fleet of bicycles, is one strategy to improve the environment, air quality, and community health. This study, sponsored by the California Department of Transportation, explores the feasibility of an employee bikesharing program and includes a literature review on bikesharing projects, a description of the Caltrans District 4 employee bikesharing pilot, and user analyses (surveys and usage)....
by Jaelen Loche | Aug 1, 2010 |
Authors: Susan A. Shaheen, Hue Zhang, Elliot Martin, and Stacy Guzman Date: August 2010 Abstract: Over the past 20 years, China has experienced a steady decline in bicycle use. To address this trend, China’s central and local government for urban transportation created Public Transit Priority to encourage public transport initiatives. As part of this effort, the government of the city of Hangzhou launched Hangzhou Public Bicycle in 2008. This service allows members to access a shared fleet of bicycles. As of March 2011, Hangzhou Public Bicycle operated 60,600 bicycles with 2,416 fixed stations in eight core districts. To understand factors leading to bikesharing adoption and barriers to adoption, the authors conducted an intercept survey in Hangzhou between January and March 2010. Two separate questionnaires were issued to bikesharing members and nonmembers to identify key differences and similarities between these groups. In total, 806 surveys were completed by 666 members and 140 nonmembers. The authors found that bikesharing was capturing modal share from bus transit, walking, autos, and taxis. Approximately 30% of members had incorporated bikesharing into their most common commute. Members indicated that they most frequently used a bikesharing station closest to either home (40%) or work (40%). These modal shifts suggested that bikesharing acted as both a competitor and a complement to existing public transit. Members exhibited a higher rate of auto ownership than nonmembers. This finding suggested that bikesharing was attractive to car owners. Recommendations for improving bikesharing in Hangzhou included adding stations and real-time bike and parking availability technologies, improving bike maintenance and locking mechanisms, and extending operational hours....
by Jaelen Loche | Dec 11, 2009 |
Authors: Susan A. Shaheen, Caroline Rodier, Tagan Blake, Jeffrey R. Lidicker, and Elliot Martin Date: December 2009 Abstract: Smart growth policy strategies attempt to control increasing auto travel, congestion, and vehicle emissions by redirecting new development into communities with a high-intensity mix of shopping, jobs, and housing that is served by high-quality modal alternatives to single occupant vehicles. The integration of innovative technologies with traditional modal options in transit-oriented developments (TODs) may be the key to providing the kind of high-quality transit service that can effectively compete with the automobile in suburban transit corridors. A major challenge, however, of such an integration strategy is the facilitation of a well-designed and seamless multi-modal connection infrastructure – both informational and physical. EasyConnect II explored the introduction and integration of multi-modal transportation services, both traditional and innovative technologies, at the Pleasant Hill Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) District station during the initial construction phase of the Contra Costa Centre Transit Village (or TOD) in the East San Francisco Bay Area. The project explored the integration of following in this TOD: 1) shared-use, low-speed vehicles, 2) electronic lockers (“eLockers”) with reservation capabilities: smart transit-based parking technology; 3) a protocol for a webbased information system (Mobility Options Protocol or MOP) to obtain information about available modal options and transportation services; and 4) innovative distributed power generation technologies to help meet growing electrical loads associated with the introduction of advanced electronic transportation and information technology systems....
