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Empirical evidence on the impacts of bikesharing: a literature review

Author

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  • João Filipe Teixeira
  • Cecília Silva
  • Frederico Moura e Sá

Abstract

In recent years, bikesharing has become one of the most popular policies promoting cycling across the world. As the number of bikesharing systems (BSS) continues to rise, it is increasingly important to quantify their expected benefits. This paper synthetises the available evidence on the current impacts of implementing a BSS, with a special focus on the induced modal shift dynamics and impacts in car reduction, indicating how increasing the attractiveness of BSS to car users could improve its benefits. Several benefits have been associated to bikesharing, but they are not equally distributed and are dependent on several nuances, particularly on modal shifts. Among the biggest contributions are the increases in physical activity (PA) levels (triggering health gains) as well as travel time savings to the BSS users. Bikesharing is mostly replacing sustainable modes of transport, with modest car replacing rates. However, bikesharing can also indirectly decrease car travel by fostering synergies with Public Transport (by expanding catchment areas, reducing overcrowding and overall travel times) and by promoting cycling use through increasing the number and diversity of cyclists. Furthermore, different types of modal shift lead to different benefits. Reductions in car travel induce decreases in greenhouse gases (GHG) and other air pollutants, increases in PA, time savings as well as congestion reductions. Conversely, new trips generated by BSS also lead to increases in PA, while modal shift from walking to BSS has been associated with travel time savings. Shifting PT users to BSS can also reduce overcrowding in saturated PT networks. The most social disadvantaged groups were found to be systematically under-represented among BSS users, yet equity measures combined with awareness-raising campaigns could increase usage rates. Exploring potential advantages of BSS against car use and increasing its car replacing rates, coupled with better impact assessments, should constitute research priorities.

Suggested Citation

  • João Filipe Teixeira & Cecília Silva & Frederico Moura e Sá, 2021. "Empirical evidence on the impacts of bikesharing: a literature review," Transport Reviews, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 41(3), pages 329-351, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:transr:v:41:y:2021:i:3:p:329-351
    DOI: 10.1080/01441647.2020.1841328
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Shouheng Sun & Yiran Wang & Dafei Yang & Qi Wu, 2025. "How Does Sharing Economy Advance Sustainable Production and Consumption? Evidence from the Policies and Business Practices of Dockless Bike Sharing," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(15), pages 1-29, August.
    2. Mora, Rodrigo & Miranda-Marquez, Sebastián & Truffello, Ricardo & Sadarangani, Kabir P., 2024. "Bikesharing and ordinary cyclists from Chile: Comparing trips, attitudes, and health-behaviours," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 116(C).
    3. Cai, Xiao & Gu, Xinyue & Silm, Siiri & Hadachi, Amnir & Jin, Tanhua & Witlox, Frank, 2025. "Differences in bike-sharing usage and its associations with station-surrounding characteristics: A multi-group analysis using machine learning techniques," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 125(C).
    4. 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).
    5. Yao, Di & Zhang, Chunqin & Li, Jinpei, 2025. "How does bike-sharing prompt the modal shift from cars to public transit?," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 174(C).
    6. Sangwan Lee, 2022. "An In-Depth Understanding of the Residential Property Value Premium of a Bikesharing Service in Portland, Oregon," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(9), pages 1-16, August.
    7. Kwiatkowski Michał Adam, 2021. "Metropolitan bicycle-sharing system in the Polish context of various needs of cities, towns, and villages," Bulletin of Geography. Socio-economic Series, Sciendo, vol. 54(54), pages 97-111, December.
    8. Urška Longar & Sergej Gričar & Tea Baldigara & Štefan Bojnec, 2024. "Cycling, Economic Growth, and Sustainability: A Comparative Analysis of Slovenia and Belgium," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 17(11), pages 1-18, November.
    9. Gong, Mengjie & Xin, Rui & Yang, Jian & Wang, Jiaoe & Li, Tingting & Zhang, Yujuan, 2024. "Spatio-temporal dynamics and recovery of commuting activities via bike-sharing around COVID-19: A case study of New York," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 121(C).
    10. Ji, Shujuan & Liu, Xiaojie & Wang, Yuanqing, 2024. "The role of road infrastructures in the usage of bikeshare and private bicycle," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 149(C), pages 234-246.
    11. Kong, Hui & Chao, Hao & Fu, Wenyan & Lin, Diao & Zhang, Yongping, 2025. "Relationship between shared micromobility and public transit: The differences between shared bikes and shared E-bikes," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 123(C).
    12. Minnich, Aljoscha, 2023. "Gamification in the transport sector: Quasi-experimental evidence from a bicycle navigation app," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 167(C).
    13. Roig-Costa, Oriol & Miralles-Guasch, Carme & Marquet, Oriol, 2025. "Unpacking the docked bike-sharing experience. A bike-along study on the infrastructural constraints and determinants of everyday bike-sharing use," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 125(C).
    14. Zhao, Chunkai & Wang, Yuhang & Ge, Zhenyu, 2023. "Is digital finance environmentally friendly in China? Evidence from shared-bike trips," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 138(C), pages 129-143.
    15. Ghasri, Milad & Ardeshiri, Ali & Zhang, Xiang & Waller, S. Travis, 2024. "Analysing preferences for integrated micromobility and public transport systems: A hierarchical latent class approach considering taste heterogeneity and attribute non-attendance," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 181(C).
    16. Vu Ngoc Tru & An Minh Ngoc, 2024. "Exploring Tourists’ Preferences for Bike-Sharing Services in the Context of Tourism," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(8), pages 1-18, April.
    17. Yiling Deng & Pengjun Zhao, 2023. "The determinants of shared bike use in China," Transportation, Springer, vol. 50(1), pages 1-23, February.
    18. Zhou, Meng & Huang, Chuqi & Yang, Yuhan & Cao, Jason & Huang, Sixian, 2025. "Exploring the nonlinear association between bike-sharing and household car ownership in Shenzhen, China," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 172(C).
    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. Vega-Gonzalo, María & Cano-Leiva, Jose & Gomez, Juan & Vassallo, José Manuel, 2025. "Integrating shared mobility into multimodal habits: A comparative analysis across shared micro- and 'macro'-mobility services," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 174(C).

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