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Understanding the diffusion of public bikesharing systems: evidence from Europe and North America

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  • Parkes, Stephen D.
  • Marsden, Greg
  • Shaheen, Susan A.
  • Cohen, Adam P.

Abstract

Since the mid-2000s, public bikesharing (also known as “bike hire”) has developed and spread into a new form of mobility in cities across the globe. This paper presents an analysis of the recent increase in the number of public bikesharing systems. Bikesharing is the shared use of a bicycle fleet, which is accessible to the public and serves as a form of public transportation. The initial system designs were pioneered in Europe and, after a series of technological innovations, appear to have matured into a system experiencing widespread adoption. There are also signs that the policy of public bikesharing systems is transferable and is being adopted in other contexts outside Europe. In public policy, the technologies that are transferred can be policies, technologies, ideals or systems. This paper seeks to describe the nature of these systems, how they have spread in time and space, how they have matured in different contexts, and why they have been adopted.

Suggested Citation

  • Parkes, Stephen D. & Marsden, Greg & Shaheen, Susan A. & Cohen, Adam P., 2013. "Understanding the diffusion of public bikesharing systems: evidence from Europe and North America," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 31(C), pages 94-103.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jotrge:v:31:y:2013:i:c:p:94-103
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2013.06.003
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Marsden, G. & Frick, K.T. & May, A.D. & Deakin, E., 2011. "How do cities approach policy innovation and policy learning? A study of 30 policies in Northern Europe and North America," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 18(3), pages 501-512, May.
    2. Shaheen, Susan & Guzman, Stacey & Zhang, Hua, 2010. "Bikesharing in Europe, the Americas, and Asia: Past, Present, and Future," Institute of Transportation Studies, Working Paper Series qt79v822k5, Institute of Transportation Studies, UC Davis.
    3. Shaheen, Susan A & Guzman, Stacey & Zhang, Hua, 2010. "Bikesharing in Europe, the Americas, and Asia: Past, Present and Future," Institute of Transportation Studies, Research Reports, Working Papers, Proceedings qt6qg8q6ft, Institute of Transportation Studies, UC Berkeley.
    4. Shaheen, Susan & Guzman, Stacey & Zhang, Hua, 2012. "Bikesharing across the Globe," Institute of Transportation Studies, Research Reports, Working Papers, Proceedings qt0qm296pf, Institute of Transportation Studies, UC Berkeley.
    5. Shaheen, Susan PhD & Cohen, Adam & Martin, Elliot PhD, 2013. "Public Bikesharing in North America: Early Operator Understanding and Emerging Trends," Institute of Transportation Studies, Research Reports, Working Papers, Proceedings qt1x26m6z7, Institute of Transportation Studies, UC Berkeley.
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