Public Bikesharing in North America: Early Operator Understanding and Emerging Trends

Public bikesharing—the shared use of a bicycle fleet by the public—is an innovative mobility strategy that has recently emerged in major North American cities. Bikesharing systems typically position bicycles throughout an urban environment, among a network of docking stations, for immediate access. Approximately five years ago, information technology (or IT)-based bikesharing services began to emerge in North America. Between 2007 and March 2013, 28 IT-based programs have been deployed–24 are operational, two are temporarily suspended, and two are now defunct in the United States (U.S.) and Canada. Bikesharing growth potential in North America is examined on the basis of a survey of all 15 IT-based public bikesharing systems operating in the U.S. and all four programs deployed in Canada, as of January 2012. These programs accounted for 172,070 users and 5,238 bicycles and 44,352 users and 6,235 bicycles in the U.S. and Canada, respectively, in January 2012. This paper reviews early operator understanding of North American public bikesharing and discusses emerging trends for prospective program start-ups. Public bikesharing—the shared use of a bicycle fleet by the public—is an innovative mobility strategy that has recently emerged in major North American cities. Bikesharing systems typically position bicycles throughout an urban environment, among a network of docking stations, for immediate access. Approximately five years ago, information technology (or IT)-based bikesharing services began to emerge in North America. Between 2007 and March 2013, 28 IT-based programs have been deployed–24 are operational, two are temporarily suspended, and two are now defunct in the United States (U.S.) and Canada. Bikesharing growth potential in North America is examined on the basis of a survey of all 15 IT-based public bikesharing systems operating in the U.S. and all four programs deployed in Canada, as of January 2012. These programs accounted for 172,070 users and 5,238 bicycles and 44,352 users and 6,235 bicycles in the U.S. and Canada, respectively, in January 2012. This paper reviews early operator understanding of North American public bikesharing and discusses emerging trends for prospective program start-ups.