IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/appene/v247y2019icp1-12.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Examining and optimizing the BCycle bike-sharing system – A pilot study in Colorado, US

Author

Listed:
  • Hu, Yujie
  • Zhang, Yongping
  • Lamb, David
  • Zhang, Mingming
  • Jia, Peng

Abstract

Many cities around the world have integrated bike-sharing programs into their public transit systems to promise sustainable, affordable transportation and reduce environmental pollution in urban areas. Investigating the usage patterns of shared bikes is of key importance to understand cyclist’s behaviors and subsequently optimize bike-sharing programs. Based on the historical trip records of bike users and station empty/full status data, this paper evaluated and optimized the bike-sharing program BCycle in the city of Boulder, Colorado, the United States, using a combination of different methods including the Potential Path Area (PPA) and the Capacitated Maximal Covering Location Problem (CMCLP). Results showed significantly different usage patterns between membership groups, revealed diverse imbalance patterns of bike supply and demand across stations in the city and provided three system upgrading strategies about maximizing the service coverage. This case study is committed to future energy conservation and sustainable energy systems nationwide and ultimately worldwide, by holding immerse potential to adapt the resulting optimization strategies to the cities with a similar urban context across the United States, as well as more emerging bike-sharing programs in other countries, such as China.

Suggested Citation

  • Hu, Yujie & Zhang, Yongping & Lamb, David & Zhang, Mingming & Jia, Peng, 2019. "Examining and optimizing the BCycle bike-sharing system – A pilot study in Colorado, US," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 247(C), pages 1-12.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:247:y:2019:i:c:p:1-12
    DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2019.04.007
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306261919306324
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.apenergy.2019.04.007?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Hung, Nguyen Ba & Sung, Jaewon & Lim, Ocktaeck, 2018. "A simulation and experimental study of operating performance of an electric bicycle integrated with a semi-automatic transmission," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 221(C), pages 319-333.
    2. Brand, Christian & Goodman, Anna & Ogilvie, David, 2014. "Evaluating the impacts of new walking and cycling infrastructure on carbon dioxide emissions from motorized travel: A controlled longitudinal study," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 128(C), pages 284-295.
    3. Zhang, Yongping & Mi, Zhifu, 2018. "Environmental benefits of bike sharing: A big data-based analysis," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 220(C), pages 296-301.
    4. Wang, Jenhung & Tsai, Ching-Hui & Lin, Pei-Chun, 2016. "Applying spatial-temporal analysis and retail location theory to public bikes site selection in Taipei," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 45-61.
    5. Ho, Sin C. & Szeto, W.Y., 2014. "Solving a static repositioning problem in bike-sharing systems using iterated tabu search," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 69(C), pages 180-198.
    6. Legros, Benjamin, 2019. "Dynamic repositioning strategy in a bike-sharing system; how to prioritize and how to rebalance a bike station," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 272(2), pages 740-753.
    7. Park, Chung & Sohn, So Young, 2017. "An optimization approach for the placement of bicycle-sharing stations to reduce short car trips: An application to the city of Seoul," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 105(C), pages 154-166.
    8. Mark Padgham, 2012. "Human Movement Is Both Diffusive and Directed," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 7(5), pages 1-11, May.
    9. Faghih-Imani, Ahmadreza & Anowar, Sabreena & Miller, Eric J. & Eluru, Naveen, 2017. "Hail a cab or ride a bike? A travel time comparison of taxi and bicycle-sharing systems in New York City," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 101(C), pages 11-21.
    10. Zhang, Ying & Thomas, Tom & Brussel, Mark & van Maarseveen, Martin, 2017. "Exploring the impact of built environment factors on the use of public bikes at bike stations: Case study in Zhongshan, China," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 59-70.
    11. Sun, Lishan & Wang, Shunchao & Liu, Shuli & Yao, Liya & Luo, Wei & Shukla, Ashish, 2018. "A completive research on the feasibility and adaptation of shared transportation in mega-cities – A case study in Beijing," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 230(C), pages 1014-1033.
    12. Ishak Mohammed & Habib M. Alshuwaikhat & Yusuf A. Adenle, 2016. "An Approach to Assess the Effectiveness of Smart Growth in Achieving Sustainable Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(4), pages 1-22, April.
    13. Saberi, Meead & Ghamami, Mehrnaz & Gu, Yi & Shojaei, Mohammad Hossein (Sam) & Fishman, Elliot, 2018. "Understanding the impacts of a public transit disruption on bicycle sharing mobility patterns: A case of Tube strike in London," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 66(C), pages 154-166.
    14. Haider, Zulqarnain & Nikolaev, Alexander & Kang, Jee Eun & Kwon, Changhyun, 2018. "Inventory rebalancing through pricing in public bike sharing systems," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 270(1), pages 103-117.
    15. J R Current & J E Storbeck, 1988. "Capacitated Covering Models," Environment and Planning B, , vol. 15(2), pages 153-163, June.
    16. O’Brien, Oliver & Cheshire, James & Batty, Michael, 2014. "Mining bicycle sharing data for generating insights into sustainable transport systems," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 34(C), pages 262-273.
    17. Wafic El-Assi & Mohamed Salah Mahmoud & Khandker Nurul Habib, 2017. "Effects of built environment and weather on bike sharing demand: a station level analysis of commercial bike sharing in Toronto," Transportation, Springer, vol. 44(3), pages 589-613, May.
    18. Caulfield, Brian & O'Mahony, Margaret & Brazil, William & Weldon, Peter, 2017. "Examining usage patterns of a bike-sharing scheme in a medium sized city," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 100(C), pages 152-161.
    19. Elliot Fishman & Simon Washington & Narelle Haworth, 2013. "Bike Share: A Synthesis of the Literature," Transport Reviews, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 33(2), pages 148-165, March.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Zhang, Yongping & Lin, Diao & Liu, Xiaoyue Cathy, 2019. "Biking islands in cities: An analysis combining bike trajectory and percolation theory," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 80(C).
    2. Colovic, Aleksandra & Prencipe, Luigi Pio & Giuffrida, Nadia & Ottomanelli, Michele, 2024. "A multi-objective model to design shared e-kick scooters parking spaces in large urban areas," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 116(C).
    3. Dong, Zhongpeng & Fan, Zhi-Ping & Wang, Ningning, 2023. "An analysis of pricing strategy for bike-sharing services: The role of the inconvenience cost," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 175(C).
    4. Bergantino, Angela Stefania & Intini, Mario & Tangari, Luca, 2021. "Influencing factors for potential bike-sharing users: an empirical analysis during the COVID-19 pandemic," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 86(C).
    5. Zhang, Haoran & Chen, Jinyu & Li, Wenjing & Song, Xuan & Shibasaki, Ryosuke, 2020. "Mobile phone GPS data in urban ride-sharing: An assessment method for emission reduction potential," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 269(C).
    6. Cheng, Xiu & Long, Ruyin & Chen, Hong & Yang, Jiahui, 2019. "Does social interaction have an impact on residents’ sustainable lifestyle decisions? A multi-agent stimulation based on regret and game theory," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 251(C), pages 1-1.
    7. Schimohr, Katja & Scheiner, Joachim, 2021. "Spatial and temporal analysis of bike-sharing use in Cologne taking into account a public transit disruption," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 92(C).
    8. Rodrigo Mora & Pablo Moran, 2020. "Public Bike Sharing Programs Under the Prism of Urban Planning Officials: The Case of Santiago de Chile," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(14), pages 1-20, July.
    9. Hu, Yujie & Wang, Changzhen & Li, Ruiyang & Wang, Fahui, 2020. "Estimating a large drive time matrix between ZIP codes in the United States: A differential sampling approach," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 86(C).

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Zhang, Yongping & Lin, Diao & Liu, Xiaoyue Cathy, 2019. "Biking islands in cities: An analysis combining bike trajectory and percolation theory," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 80(C).
    2. Yi Yao & Yifang Zhang & Lixin Tian & Nianxing Zhou & Zhilin Li & Minggang Wang, 2019. "Analysis of Network Structure of Urban Bike-Sharing System: A Case Study Based on Real-Time Data of a Public Bicycle System," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(19), pages 1-17, September.
    3. Neumann-Saavedra, Bruno Albert & Mattfeld, Dirk Christian & Hewitt, Mike, 2021. "Assessing the operational impact of tactical planning models for bike-sharing redistribution," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 150(C), pages 216-235.
    4. Liu, Yixiao & Tian, Zihao & Pan, Baoran & Zhang, Wenbin & Liu, Yunqi & Tian, Lixin, 2022. "A hybrid big-data-based and tolerance-based method to estimate environmental benefits of electric bike sharing," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 315(C).
    5. Mix, Richard & Hurtubia, Ricardo & Raveau, Sebastián, 2022. "Optimal location of bike-sharing stations: A built environment and accessibility approach," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 160(C), pages 126-142.
    6. Li, Lili & Li, Xiaohan & Yu, Senbin & Li, Xiaojia & Dai, Jiaqi, 2022. "Unbalanced usage of free-floating bike sharing connecting with metro stations," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 608(P1).
    7. Hui Bi & Zhirui Ye & He Zhu, 2024. "Mining bike sharing trip record data: a closer examination of the operating performance at station level," Transportation, Springer, vol. 51(3), pages 1015-1041, June.
    8. Zijia Wang & Lei Cheng & Yongxing Li & Zhiqiang Li, 2020. "Spatiotemporal Characteristics of Bike-Sharing Usage around Rail Transit Stations: Evidence from Beijing, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-19, February.
    9. Ma, Xinwei & Ji, Yanjie & Yuan, Yufei & Van Oort, Niels & Jin, Yuchuan & Hoogendoorn, Serge, 2020. "A comparison in travel patterns and determinants of user demand between docked and dockless bike-sharing systems using multi-sourced data," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 139(C), pages 148-173.
    10. Kumar Dey, Bibhas & Anowar, Sabreena & Eluru, Naveen, 2021. "A framework for estimating bikeshare origin destination flows using a multiple discrete continuous system," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 144(C), pages 119-133.
    11. Albiński, Szymon & Fontaine, Pirmin & Minner, Stefan, 2018. "Performance analysis of a hybrid bike sharing system: A service-level-based approach under censored demand observations," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 116(C), pages 59-69.
    12. Bencekri, Madiha & Van Fan, Yee & Lee, Doyun & Choi, Minje & Lee, Seungjae, 2024. "Optimizing shared bike systems for economic gain: Integrating land use and retail," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 118(C).
    13. Lv, Huitao & Li, Haojie & Chen, Yanlu & Feng, Tao, 2023. "An origin-destination level analysis on the competitiveness of bike-sharing to underground using explainable machine learning," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 113(C).
    14. Kim, Minjun & Cho, Gi-Hyoug, 2021. "Analysis on bike-share ridership for origin-destination pairs: Effects of public transit route characteristics and land-use patterns," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 93(C).
    15. Morton, Craig, 2020. "The demand for cycle sharing: Examining the links between weather conditions, air quality levels, and cycling demand for regular and casual users," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 88(C).
    16. Morton, Craig & Kelley, Scott & Monsuur, Fredrik & Hui, Tianwen, 2021. "A spatial analysis of demand patterns on a bicycle sharing scheme: Evidence from London," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 94(C).
    17. Wu, Chunliang & Kim, Inhi, 2020. "Analyzing the structural properties of bike-sharing networks: Evidence from the United States, Canada, and China," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 140(C), pages 52-71.
    18. Hu, Beibei & Zhong, Zhenfang & Zhang, Yanli & Sun, Yue & Jiang, Li & Dong, Xianlei & Sun, Huijun, 2022. "Understanding the influencing factors of bicycle-sharing demand based on residents’ trips," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 586(C).
    19. Zhang, Yongping & Mi, Zhifu, 2018. "Environmental benefits of bike sharing: A big data-based analysis," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 220(C), pages 296-301.
    20. Dehdari Ebrahimi, Zhila & Momenitabar, Mohsen & Nasri, Arefeh A. & Mattson, Jeremy, 2022. "Using a GIS-based spatial approach to determine the optimal locations of bikeshare stations: The case of Washington D.C," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 127(C), pages 48-60.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:247:y:2019:i:c:p:1-12. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/405891/description#description .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.