Roadmap for free-floating bikeshare research and practice in North America

Jana A. Hirsch · Joshua M. Stratton-Rayner · Meghan Winters · John G. Stehlin · Kate Hosford · Stephen J. Mooney

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Urban Transport and Accessibility Transportation and Mobility Innovations Sharing Economy and Platforms

Abstract

The deployment of smartphone-operated, non-station-based bicycle fleets ("dockless" or "free-floating" bikeshare) represents a new generation of bikesharing. Users locate bikes in these free-floating systems using Global Positioning Systems (GPS) and lock bikes in place at their destinations. In this paper, we review current free-floating bikesharing systems in North America and discuss priorities for future research and practice. Since launching in 2017, free-floating bikeshare has expanded rapidly to encompass 200+ systems operating 40,000+ bikes within 150+ cities. In contrast with previous systems, free-floating systems operate almost exclusively using commercial "for-profit" models, amidst concerns of financial sustainability. Governance for these systems is in early stages and can include operating fees, fleet size caps, safety requirements, parking restrictions, data sharing, and equity obligations. We identify research and practice gaps within the themes of usage, equity, sharing resources, business model, and context. While some existing bikesharing literature translates to free-floating systems, novel topics arise due to the ubiquity, fluidity, and business models of these new systems. Systems have numerous obstacles to overcome for long-term sustainability, including barriers common to station-based systems: limited supportive infrastructure, equity, theft or vandalism, and funding. Other unique obstacles arise in free-floating bikeshare around parking, sidewalk right of ways, varied bicycle types, and data sharing. This review offers background in and critical reflection on the rapidly evolving free-floating bikeshare landscape, including priorities for future research and practice. If concerns can be overcome, free-floating bikeshare may provide unprecedented opportunities to bypass congested streets, encourage physical activity, and support urban sustainability.

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References

2010Bikesharing in Europe, the Americas, and Asia 2015Bikeshare: A Review of Recent Literature 2015Bike sharing: A review of evidence on impacts and processes of implementation and operation 2015Cycling as a Part of Daily Life: A Review of Health Perspectives 2014Sustainable bike-sharing systems: characteristics and commonalities across cases in urban China 2018The station-free sharing bike demand forecasting with a deep learning approach and large-scale datasets 2013Modelling the potential effect of shared bicycles on public transport travel times in Greater Helsinki: An open data approach 2013Understanding the diffusion of public bikesharing systems: evidence from Europe and North America

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