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A Rebalancing Strategy for the Imbalance Problem in Bike-Sharing Systems

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  • Peiyu Yi

    (College of Computer Science, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, Sichuan, China)

  • Feihu Huang

    (College of Computer Science, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, Sichuan, China)

  • Jian Peng

    (College of Computer Science, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, Sichuan, China)

Abstract

Shared bikes have become popular traveling tools in our daily life. The successful operation of bike sharing systems (BSS) can greatly promote energy saving in a city. In BSS, stations becoming empty or full is the main cause of customers failing to rent or return bikes. Some truck-based rebalancing strategies are proposed to solve this problem. However, there are still challenges around the relocation of bikes. The truck operating costs also need to be considered. In this paper, we propose a customer-oriented rebalancing strategy to solve this problem. In our strategy, two algorithms are proposed to ensure the whole system is balanced for as long as possible. The first algorithm calculates the optimal state of each station through the one-dimensional Random Walk Process with two absorption walls. Based on the derived optimal state of each station, the second algorithm recommends the station that has the largest difference between its current state and its optimal state to the customer. In addition, a simulation system of shared bikes based on the historical records of Bay Area Bikeshare is built to evaluate the performance of our proposed rebalancing strategy. The simulation results indicate that the proposed strategy is able to effectively decrease the imbalance in the system and increase the system’s performance compared with the truck-based methods.

Suggested Citation

  • Peiyu Yi & Feihu Huang & Jian Peng, 2019. "A Rebalancing Strategy for the Imbalance Problem in Bike-Sharing Systems," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(13), pages 1-18, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:12:y:2019:i:13:p:2578-:d:245614
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Rayane El Sibai & Khalil Challita & Jacques Bou Abdo & Jacques Demerjian, 2021. "A New User-Based Incentive Strategy for Improving Bike Sharing Systems’ Performance," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-18, March.
    2. Choi, Seung Jun & Jiao, Junfeng & Lee, Hye Kyung & Farahi, Arya, 2023. "Combatting the mismatch: Modeling bike-sharing rental and return machine learning classification forecast in Seoul, South Korea," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 109(C).
    3. Horațiu Florian & Camelia Avram & Mihai Pop & Dan Radu & Adina Aștilean, 2023. "Resources Relocation Support Strategy Based on a Modified Genetic Algorithm for Bike-Sharing Systems," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 11(8), pages 1-32, April.
    4. Zhang, Yuhan & Shao, Yichang & Bi, Hui & Aoyong, Li & Ye, Zhirui, 2023. "Bike-sharing systems rebalancing considering redistribution proportions: A user-based repositioning approach," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 610(C).
    5. Alberto-Jesus Perea-Moreno & Francisco Manzano-Agugliaro, 2020. "Energy Saving at Cities," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(15), pages 1-3, July.

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