Assessment of the Transport Accessibility of the City's Bicycle Rental System in Szczecin - GIS-Based Analysis

Purpose: The purpose of the paper is to identify areas in Szczecin (Poland) of strong accessibility and gaps in the bike-sharing system, focusing on the left bank of the city, where the city center is located. The study evaluates the distribution of bike stations in relation to walking distances and times, using buffer and drive-time analyses. By highlighting disparities in station locations and proposing recommendations for optimizing station placement, the paper seeks to improve the system's overall connectivity. Design/Methodology/Approach: The development of accessibility analysis in this paper was prepared in ArcGIS Software, in particular ArcGIS Pro and ArcGIS Online. The Feature Analysis, including Use Proximity tool and in detail: Creation of buffers (ArcGIS Pro desktop version) and Creation of Drive-Time Areas (ArcGIS Online) was used. Preparation of the analysis is based on four steps: (1) preparation of the list of Bike-S stations in Szczecin, (2) obtaining geographic coordinates for each station, (3) creation of a map with a layer presenting the Bike-S system, (4) usage of ArcGIS Proximity Tools to gather information about buffers and drive-time areas for the analysed stations. Findings: The findings reveal that the Bike-S system in Szczecin offers strong coverage in the city center, with most stations spaced approximately 300 meters apart, meeting public transport accessibility standards. However, gaps in accessibility exist, particularly in the westernmost and northern areas of the left bank, with notable disconnection near stations like "Kwiatowa" and "Rondo Uniwersyteckie-Kampus US." Buffer and drive-time analyses show that while most areas within a 1000-meter walking distance or 12-minute walking time are well-connected, peripheral areas face accessibility challenges. It highlights the equitable distribution of stations as a critical factor in achieving a more balanced and inclusive bike-sharing network. Overall, the study demonstrates the system's success in enhancing micro-mobility while identifying opportunities for optimization to better serve all areas of the city. Practical Implications: This research made it possible to assess the transport accessibility of bike-rental scheme in the city of Szczecin. This type of analysis is useful from the point of view of city planners and public transport system operators. This type of research might be conducted in the other fields of public transport, including transport accessibility based on public transport stops, identification of a gaps in the whole system etc. Originality/Value: The interdisciplinary nature of the research allows for analysis from a broader perspective, looking at the transport problems of modern cities, in this case- city of Szczecin, and the tools that might be used to solve them- GIS software. The ex-post analysis proved the right direction of development of bike-sharing scheme in the city. The GIS tools that were used also proved that the spatial tools and analyses can improve planning and help to implement sustainable solutions in the city.