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Rethinking the Utility of Public Bicycles: The Development and Challenges of Station-Less Bike Sharing in China

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  • Jiaoe Wang

    (State Key Laboratory of Resources and Environmental Information System, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
    Key Laboratory of Regional Sustainable Development Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
    College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China)

  • Jie Huang

    (Key Laboratory of Regional Sustainable Development Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China)

  • Michael Dunford

    (Key Laboratory of Regional Sustainable Development Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
    School of Global Studies, University of Sussex, Brighton BN1 9QN, Sussex, UK)

Abstract

Cycling is known to be environmentally friendly and beneficial to public health and sustainable urban development. Cycling has recently increased in Chinese cities as a result of the emergence of station-less bike-sharing systems. This study examines the emergence, rapid growth and consolidation of station-less bike-sharing systems and the role of suppliers, users and government regulators. It shows that these systems developed unevenly, growing most in large cities in eastern and south-eastern China, and explores the relationship between this spatial distribution and the nature of the service and the socio-economic characteristics of cities. To investigate patterns of, and reasons for, the use of these systems, this research also reports the results of a survey of users and non-users, identifying their gender, age, income characteristics and attitudes to station-less systems.

Suggested Citation

  • Jiaoe Wang & Jie Huang & Michael Dunford, 2019. "Rethinking the Utility of Public Bicycles: The Development and Challenges of Station-Less Bike Sharing in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-20, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:6:p:1539-:d:213704
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. repec:cdl:itsrrp:qt8xc1k3rw is not listed on IDEAS
    2. De Zhao & Ghim Ping Ong & Wei Wang & Wei Zhou, 2021. "Estimating Public Bicycle Trip Characteristics with Consideration of Built Environment Data," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-13, January.
    3. Jing Wu & Changlong Ling & Xinzhuo Li, 2019. "Study on the Accessibility and Recreational Development Potential of Lakeside Areas Based on Bike-Sharing Big Data Taking Wuhan City as an Example," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-20, December.
    4. Tianjian Yang & Ye Li & Simin Zhou & Yu Zhang, 2019. "Dynamic Feedback Analysis of Influencing Factors and Challenges of Dockless Bike-Sharing Sustainability in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(17), pages 1-17, August.
    5. Seonghoon Ban & Kyung Hoon Hyun, 2019. "Designing a User Participation-Based Bike Rebalancing Service," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(8), pages 1-14, April.
    6. Das, H.S. & Rahman, M.M. & Li, S. & Tan, C.W., 2020. "Electric vehicles standards, charging infrastructure, and impact on grid integration: A technological review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 120(C).
    7. 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.
    8. Grüner, Sebastian L. & Kowald, Matthias, 2025. "Bike-sharing, why not? A framework of utility perceptions of BSSs' non-users based on qualitative data," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 168(C), pages 220-243.
    9. Si, Hongyun & Su, Yangyue & Wu, Guangdong & Liu, Bingsheng & Zhao, Xianbo, 2020. "Understanding bike-sharing users’ willingness to participate in repairing damaged bicycles: Evidence from China," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 141(C), pages 203-220.

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