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Travel Characteristics and Cost–Benefit Analysis of Bikeshare Service on University Campuses

Author

Listed:
  • Xianyuan Zhu

    (School of Civil Engineering and Transportation, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510641, China)

  • Duanya Lyu

    (School of Civil Engineering and Transportation, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510641, China)

  • Jianmin Xu

    (School of Civil Engineering and Transportation, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510641, China)

  • Yongjie Lin

    (School of Civil Engineering and Transportation, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510641, China)

Abstract

Bikeshare has emerged as a sustainable mobility solution not only for addressing the first- and last-kilometer problem but facilitating short- and medium-distance travel. While existing research predominantly focuses on city-level Bikeshare Programs (BSPs), there is a paucity of studies examining university campus BSPs, particularly in terms of quantitative analysis of trip frequency and system operation sustainability. This paper presents a systematical framework to investigate university campus BSPs from two complementary perspectives: users’ travel characteristics and operational sustainability. To achieve this, two successive self-reported questionnaire surveys were conducted on the campus of South China University of Technology in 2017 and 2020, respectively. Subsequently, a multinomial logistic regression model was developed to identify the key factors influencing users’ travel frequency. Finally, a cost–benefit analysis was developed to assess the operational sustainability of the system. The findings reveal two significant insights: (1) the system was profitable under the 2017 fare policy, with the potential to maximize profits by strategically increasing fares while enhancing service quality; and (2) in 2020, when the fare is adjusted closer to the predicted optimal value, there is an increase in the proportion of high-frequency users, accompanied by improved user experience, reduced difficulty in bike access/return, and slightly lower pricing satisfaction. This study provides a valuable method that can be extended to the restricted service communities for effective planning and evaluation of bikeshare systems.

Suggested Citation

  • Xianyuan Zhu & Duanya Lyu & Jianmin Xu & Yongjie Lin, 2025. "Travel Characteristics and Cost–Benefit Analysis of Bikeshare Service on University Campuses," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(8), pages 1-16, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:8:p:3489-:d:1634180
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Zhan, Zilin & Guo, Yuanyuan & Noland, Robert B. & He, Sylvia Y. & Wang, Yacan, 2023. "Analysis of links between dockless bikeshare and metro trips in Beijing," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 175(C).
    2. Elliot Fishman, 2016. "Bikeshare: A Review of Recent Literature," Transport Reviews, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 36(1), pages 92-113, January.
    3. Elżbieta Macioszek & Agata Kurek, 2021. "The Analysis of the Factors Determining the Choice of Park and Ride Facility Using a Multinomial Logit Model," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(1), pages 1-33, January.
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