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Known also as Public-use Bicycles (PUB’s) or city bikes, bike sharing schemes (BSS) are short-term urban bicycle rental schemes that enable bicycles to be picked up at any self-serve bicycle station and returned to any other bicycle station, which makes bicycle-sharing ideal for A-to-B trips. To reflect the great emergence of these systems, the ECF launched PEBSS, the Platform for European Bicycle Sharing & Systems.

Bike Share Schemes (BSS) – 3 generations and some challenges.

The first generation of BSS began in Amsterdam in 1965. Known as “white bicycles” they were to be used for a single trip, then left unlocked for the next person to use. This BSS in Amsterdam helped to increase the number of cyclists, especially among those that did not have a bicycle.

The second generation of BSS was introduced in Copenhagen. The main differences with the first generation of  BSS was the possibility to lock the bicycle and the use of a system of “coins refund” in order to provide a better service (this promoted the return of bicycles and decreased the number of stolen bicycles), as well as the introduction of an annual membership and fee. This system was the first “massive BSS” with thousands of bicycles available.

The third generation of BSS has been the biggest step in the development of bike share schemes in the world. For first time, BSS have been successfully introduced outside of Europe and its uses are known worldwide. This third generation was introduced in 1998 in Rennes, France. The system has some major differences compared to the first and second generation of bike share schemes, such as:

  • Smart card access
  • Automatic docks and stations
  • Real time information (number of bicycles in use, empty/full stations, etc.)
  • “First 30 minutes for free”

The revolution of BSS with over 500 systems around the world and the success of these systems in cities like Paris, New York, Mexico City and London, created new challenges for operators, municipalities and technology developers.

Bicycles equipped with a GPS, electronic components which allow the station to recognize the bicycle and check its condition (lights, brakes, etc.), one card for all (public transport and BSS) and the introduction of electric bicycles are some of the answers to the new challenges that bike share schemes involve.

What is next?

Bike sharing systems are a success all over the world but at same time, they have some growth limitations:

  • Space limitations: manage available spaces for bicycles and distribution of bicycles all over the different stations.
  • Bicycles damaged or missing; this lowers the quality of the service
  • High number of uses per bicycle and day/ too many members / collapse because of success.
  • Guarantee of having a bicycle in the stations you plan to take the bike and and empty space upon arrival at your destination.
  • Plan the best way to your destination avoiding dangerous routes, traffic problems, etc.
  • Topography.

To solve these problems and answer to future challenges and opportunities that BSS and technological successes offer, fourth generation of BSS could really be the biggest step for a safe, comfortable, accessible and easy to use service.

ECF’s study on next Generation PBS can be found here PUBLIC Bike Share Next Generation Report

What can we expect from the fourth generation of BSS?

  • Global Position System. GPS complete integration. Real time localization of the bicycle, routes calculation, and shares information between operators and the bicycle…
  • Widespread use of internet connection and mobile device use. Option to book a bicycle from you mobile device and also to book a place to leave your bicycle at the end of your trip. Use of your mobile device as a smart card to rent the bike.
  • Screens display with live information (safe routes, docks available, bicycle basic information -lights, charge in the case of pedelecs, brakes…-)
  • Large use of renewable energy technologies for docks, screens, e-bicycles (pedelecs) and stations.
  • Movable docks and stations.

Experience has been basic to develop and improve BSS. If in the first generation the vandalism and stolen bicycles were the challenge, second generation answered with incentives to the return of the bicycle (membership, fees…). When new technologies provided new options (magnetic cards system, automatic docks and stations…) we witnessed the arrival of a global third generation of BSS and now, with an international recognition and BSS as a mainstream in the public transport sector, fourth generations will go beyond.

The state of Bike Share Schemes (Europe and the world)

This European concept has been successfully exported globally. If in the XX century, almost all Bike Share Schemes (BSS) were in Europe, in 2011, there was an estimation of 375 bicycle -sharing schemes operating in 33 countries in almost every region of the world using around 236,000 bicycles.

Currently (April 2013) there are more than 535 BSS around the world with an estimated fleet of more than 510.000 bicycles and more than 120 BSS are not in Europe (half of the bicycles are in Asia with Hangzhou, China with the largest BSS -over 60.000 bicycles-).

In cities such Lyon (France), where Bike Share Schemes has been a worldwide recognized success, 96% of user recognize the were not even occasional users of the bicycle before they became users of the BSS. Great example  to show how the implementation of a BSS and cyclists infrastructure can encourage people to cycle.

real time MAP-

Success factors

Survival of the scheme is the central indicator for success. There are other points of view, depending on the stakeholders (politicians, operators, users…). The question here is: which indicator is better for  the survival of the BSS?

The more important aspects would be:

  • Cycling infrastructure in the city
  • Users accessibility, safety
  • Bikes and stations design
  • Financing model
  • Technical and practical integration with other modes of transport and redistribution traffic

 

Bike share schemes and cycling

Bike share schemes are extremely beneficial for cycling. They can also have a key role in the achievement of  the ECF’s 2020 objective: doubling cycling in Europe. Investments in BSS encourage people to cycle, at same time people demand more cycling facilities (bike paths, increase the number of bicycle owners, bicycle parkings,BSS extension to other areas of the city…), suddenly and thanks to bike share schemes, cycling is in the political scene of cities where cycling wasn’t a policy before.

Related news and resources

Bike sharing, no just for Europeans, European Cyclists' Federation

OBIS Project. Optimising bike sharing in European cities. Handbook, Obis Projects.

The world´s top 7 bike share systems

City Cycling, MIT

Midgley, Peter. Bicycle-sharing schemes, enhancing sustainable mobility in urban areas. United Nations, Department of Economics and Social Affairs. New York, 2011 

Larsen, Janet.  Bike-sharing programs hit the streets in over 500 cities in the world. Plan B updates. Earth Policy Institute, 2013.