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What Is the Connection? Understanding Shared Micromobility Links to Rail Public Transit Systems in Major California Cities

Author

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  • Mengying Ju

    (Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, 109 McLaughlin Hall, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA)

  • Elliot Martin

    (Transportation Sustainability Research Center, University of California, Berkeley, 2150 Allston Way, Berkeley, CA 94704, USA)

  • Susan Shaheen

    (Civil and Environmental Engineering and Transportation Sustainability Research Center, University of California, Berkeley, 408 McLaughlin Hall, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA)

Abstract

As shared micromobility (bikes and scooters) has proliferated throughout urban areas, there has been growing interest in how it facilitates connections with rail transit systems. This study explores the magnitude of interactions between shared micromobility and rail public transit systems using shared micromobility trip data and rail transit schedule data. We evaluate over one million trips from October 2019 to February 2020 in four California cities (San Francisco, Los Angeles, Sacramento, and San Jose) and develop criteria to identify trips connecting to rail transit. These include spatial and temporal rules, such as whether a trip starts/terminates close to public transit stations and whether a trip takes place when transit systems are operating. The criteria are examined via sensitivity analyses. The results indicate the degree of interaction between rail public transit and shared micromobility varies across cities and systems (i.e., docked/dockless). Most connections take place in the downtown or around public transit hubs. About 5–20% of all shared micromobility trips are identified as accessing or egressing from rail transit. These connecting trips exhibit commute-driven patterns and greater measured velocities. We conclude by examining the applicability of incorporating schedule information into the identification process of shared micromobility trips connecting to rail transit systems.

Suggested Citation

  • Mengying Ju & Elliot Martin & Susan Shaheen, 2024. "What Is the Connection? Understanding Shared Micromobility Links to Rail Public Transit Systems in Major California Cities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(2), pages 1-18, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:2:p:555-:d:1315651
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    2. Montserrat Miramontes & Maximilian Pfertner & Hema Sharanya Rayaprolu & Martin Schreiner & Gebhard Wulfhorst, 2017. "Impacts of a multimodal mobility service on travel behavior and preferences: user insights from Munich’s first Mobility Station," Transportation, Springer, vol. 44(6), pages 1325-1342, November.
    3. repec:cdl:itsrrp:qt6qg8q6ft is not listed on IDEAS
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