Dock-based and Dockless Bikesharing Systems: Analysis of Equitable Access for Disadvantaged Communities

Dockless bikeshare systems have the potential to replace dock-based systems since they provide greater flexibility. Many cities in the US currently regulated the maximum number of bikes a dockless system can have in use because of problems associated with managing the bicycles. Despite issues of inventory management, dockless systems offer two main advantages over dock-based ones: a lower membership fee and free-range (or, at least free-range within service areas). These two advantages may help solve existing access barriers for disadvantaged populations. However, much of the research has focused on addressing equity issues in dock-based systems, and there is limited knowledge about how dockless systems can help relieve barriers for disadvantaged populations. This project will use San Francisco as a case study. The research team will analyze the spatial distribution of bikeshare trips and trip usages for dock-based and dockless bikeshare systems, and the team will quantify the service level (e.g., bikeshare usage and bike distribution areas) for disadvantaged populations. Comparing the differences in service levels between the systems, the team will study if dockless systems are able to address equity issues. The results will also provide policy insights to local municipalities on how to properly regulate these systems in order to improve equity access.

• Record URL:
  https://ncst.ucdavis.edu/project/dock-based-and-dockless-bikesharing-systems-analysis-equitable-access-disadvantaged

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Completed
• Funding: $91173
• Contract Numbers:

  65A0686 TO 023

• Sponsor Organizations:

  National Center for Sustainable Transportation

  University of California, Davis
  Davis, CA  United States 

  Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology

  University Transportation Centers Program
  Department of Transportation
  Washington, DC  United States  20590

  California Department of Transportation

  1227 O Street
  Sacramento, CA  United States  95843
• Managing Organizations:

  National Center for Sustainable Transportation

  University of California, Davis
  Davis, CA  United States 
• Project Managers:

  Iacobucci, Lauren

• Performing Organizations:

  National Center for Sustainable Transportation

  University of California, Davis
  Davis, CA  United States 

  University of California, Davis

  Institute of Transportation Studies
  Davis, CA  United States  95616
• Principal Investigators:

  Jaller, Miguel

  Niemeier, Debbie

• Start Date: 20200101
• Expected Completion Date: 20210630
• Actual Completion Date: 20211201
• USDOT Program: University Transportation Centers

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Analysis; Bicycles; Case studies; Equity (Justice); Level of service; Shared mobility; Spatial analysis; Transportation disadvantaged persons; Vehicle sharing
• Identifier Terms: Bikeability
• Geographic Terms: San Francisco (California)
• Subject Areas: Pedestrians and Bicyclists; Policy; Society; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01717658
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: National Center for Sustainable Transportation
• Contract Numbers: 65A0686 TO 023
• Files: UTC, RIP
• Created Date: Sep 19 2019 7:32PM