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Assessing the Impact of COVID-19 on Bike-Sharing Usage: The Case of Thessaloniki, Greece

Author

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  • Andreas Nikiforiadis

    (Centre for Research and Technology Hellas (CERTH), Hellenic Institute of Transport, 57001 Thermi, Greece)

  • Georgia Ayfantopoulou

    (Centre for Research and Technology Hellas (CERTH), Hellenic Institute of Transport, 57001 Thermi, Greece)

  • Afroditi Stamelou

    (Centre for Research and Technology Hellas (CERTH), Hellenic Institute of Transport, 57001 Thermi, Greece)

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant effect in urban mobility, while essential changes are being observed in travelers’ behavior. Travelers in many cases shifted to other transport modes, especially walking and cycling, for minimizing the risk of infection. This study attempts to investigate the impact that COVID-19 had on travelers’ perceptions towards bike-sharing systems and whether the pandemic could result in a greater or lesser share of trips that are being conducted through shared bikes. For that reason, a questionnaire survey was carried out in the city of Thessaloniki, Greece, and the responses of 223 people were analyzed statistically. The results of the analysis show that COVID-19 will not affect significantly the number of people using bike-sharing for their trips. However, for a proportion of people, bike-sharing is now more attractive. Moreover, the results indicate that bike-sharing is now more likely to become a more preferable mobility option for people who were previously commuting with private cars as passengers (not as drivers) and people who were already registered users in a bike-sharing system. The results also provide evidence about the importance of safety towards COVID-19 for engaging more users in bike-sharing, in order to provide them with a safe mobility option and contribute to the city’s resilience and sustainability.

Suggested Citation

  • Andreas Nikiforiadis & Georgia Ayfantopoulou & Afroditi Stamelou, 2020. "Assessing the Impact of COVID-19 on Bike-Sharing Usage: The Case of Thessaloniki, Greece," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(19), pages 1-12, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:19:p:8215-:d:424062
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    1. Schaefer, Kerstin J. & Tuitjer, Leonie & Levin-Keitel, Meike, 2021. "Transport disrupted – Substituting public transport by bike or car under Covid 19," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 153(C), pages 202-217.
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    3. Teixeira, João Filipe & Silva, Cecília & Moura e Sá, Frederico, 2023. "Factors influencing modal shift to bike sharing: Evidence from a travel survey conducted during COVID-19," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 111(C).
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    9. Filipe Teixeira, João & Silva, Cecília & Moura e Sá, Frederico, 2022. "The role of bike sharing during the coronavirus pandemic: An analysis of the mobility patterns and perceptions of Lisbon’s GIRA users," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 159(C), pages 17-34.
    10. Katarzyna Turoń & Andrzej Kubik & Feng Chen, 2021. "Electric Shared Mobility Services during the Pandemic: Modeling Aspects of Transportation," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-19, May.
    11. Ali Bakdur & Fumito Masui & Michal Ptaszynski, 2021. "Predicting Increase in Demand for Public Buses in University Students Daily Life Needs: Case Study Based on a City in Japan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-28, May.
    12. Hugo de Alba-Martínez & Alejandro L. Grindlay & Gabriela Ochoa-Covarrubias, 2020. "(In)Equitable Accessibility to Sustainable Transport from Universities in the Guadalajara Metropolitan Area, Mexico," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-18, December.
    13. Farrukh Baig & Konstantinos Kirytopoulos & Jaeyoung Lee & Evangelos Tsamilis & Ruizhi Mao & Panagiotis Ntzeremes, 2022. "Changes in People’s Mobility Behavior in Greece after the COVID-19 Outbreak," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-22, March.
    14. Zhang, Yunchang & Fricker, Jon D., 2021. "Quantifying the impact of COVID-19 on non-motorized transportation: A Bayesian structural time series model," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 103(C), pages 11-20.
    15. Guadalupe González-Sánchez & María Isabel Olmo-Sánchez & Elvira Maeso-González, 2021. "Challenges and Strategies for Post-COVID-19 Gender Equity and Sustainable Mobility," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-19, February.
    16. Valenzuela-Levi, N. & Echiburu, T. & Correa, J. & Hurtubia, R. & Muñoz, J.C., 2021. "Housing and accessibility after the COVID-19 pandemic: Rebuilding for resilience, equity and sustainable mobility," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 109(C), pages 48-60.
    17. Hu, Songhua & Xiong, Chenfeng & Liu, Zhanqin & Zhang, Lei, 2021. "Examining spatiotemporal changing patterns of bike-sharing usage during COVID-19 pandemic," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 91(C).
    18. Alexandros Nikitas & Stefanos Tsigdinos & Christos Karolemeas & Efthymia Kourmpa & Efthimios Bakogiannis, 2021. "Cycling in the Era of COVID-19: Lessons Learnt and Best Practice Policy Recommendations for a More Bike-Centric Future," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-25, April.
    19. Teixeira, João Filipe & Silva, Cecília & Moura e Sá, Frederico, 2022. "The strengths and weaknesses of bike sharing as an alternative mode during disruptive public health crisis: A qualitative analysis on the users’ motivations during COVID-19," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 129(C), pages 24-37.
    20. Xiaozhou Ye, 2022. "Bike-Sharing Adoption in Cross-National Contexts: An Empirical Research on the Factors Affecting Users’ Intentions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-19, March.
    21. Shang, Wen-Long & Chen, Jinyu & Bi, Huibo & Sui, Yi & Chen, Yanyan & Yu, Haitao, 2021. "Impacts of COVID-19 pandemic on user behaviors and environmental benefits of bike sharing: A big-data analysis," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 285(C).
    22. Lei, Yiyuan & Ozbay, Kaan, 2021. "A robust analysis of the impacts of the stay-at-home policy on taxi and Citi Bike usage: A case study of Manhattan," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 110(C), pages 487-498.

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