Public bicycle systems

Péter Dalos

COWI Hungary Consulting and Planning Ltd.

Index

• What is a public bicycle system?• The evolution of bike-sharing• Differences between PBS and traditional bicycle rent• The role of PBS in urban transport• Motivation to use• System elements• PBS for Budapest• Barrier factors• Key recommendations

What is a public bicycle system?

• New service of public transport• Accessible at interchanges/other target areas• Relatively densely covered network • Easy to access by anybody• Free (or for a very low fare) to use

• Cycling = transport mode• „Public bicycle system” = part of public transport system

The evolution of bike-sharing

• 1st generation (non-profit, Amsterdam)• 2nd generation (dedicated racks, lockable bicycles,

minimal deposit, Copenhagen)• 3rd generation (modern payment-, locking-, and

registration systems, Portsmouth)

The public bicycle system is not a bicycle rental!

  Bicycle rental (mainly for tourists) Public bicycle system (mainly for residents)

Registration each time on site once on site or preliminary

Access ID as a deposit customer card, bankcard or (mobile) phone application

Bicycle design commercial special, unique look

Time of usage 1 hr –several days few minutes – few hours

Opening times Limited 24h/7 days

Network character no yes

Place of return same as the place of pickupanywhere within the network (collection point/docking station)

One-way trip possible no yes

Staff needed for pickup, return and maintenance for repair, maintenance and distribution

Target market mainly tourists mainly residents (for everyday use)

Financing usersmall portion by user, parking fees, road toll, advertising revenues

Role of PBS in urban transport

• Objectiveso Transport-alternative in the downtowno Enriching the supply-marketo Modal shift (trip replacement) to bicycle → time/cost benefit → decreasing pollution → social (health) benefitso Sustainability

• Target marketo 25-60 year old o Residents o Traveling from/to/through downtown

Motivation to use PBS

System elements – service area

System elements - registration, IT background

System elements - user identification, system access

System elements - redistribution, repair and maintenance

System elements - collection points (docking stations), bicycles

Budapest – defining the service area

• Zone datao Demography (KSH)o Economy (KSH)o Education (KSH)o Trips (BKV household

survey)• Public transport• Cycle-friendliness

o Characteristicso Infrastructure/facilitieso Road transport

Budapest – diversity of land-use

• Indicator of land-use diversity – by modeo Tripso Populationo Workplaceso Office floor areao Educational

institutions

Budapest – Network coverage

• Service area 9,8 km2• Number of docking stations: 73 pcs• Number of bicycles: 1009 pcs

Barrier factors

• Obsolete regulations (legal environment out of date)• Cycling-friendly road infrastructure (traffic calming, accessibility) still to be

developed• Limited access to data on cycling transport and habits of urban cyclists

(transport surveys)• Lack of integrated cycling policy (professionals, administration, decision

makers)• PBS „best practice” constantly evolving

Key recommendations

• Constantly involve all stakeholders• Reconcile property rights• Customize and fine-tune by planning • Communicate

o in the planning processo in the implementation processo in order to operate successfully

Questions

Thank you for your attention.

Péter Dalos

dal@cowi.hu

Resources

1. Photo: communities.canada.com

4. Photos: metrobike.net, Alkarex

5. COWI Hungary: Feasibility of implementing a public bicycle system in Budapest , wikipedia.org

7. Hermann Gelissen: OV-fiets: the solution of traveling by bike and train

8. Photos: criticalmass.hu

9. Photos: velib.paris.fr, callabike-interaktiv.de, bicing.com

10. Photos: Péter Dalos, metrobike.net, velib.paris.fr

11. Photos: Marc Belzunces, velib.paris.fr

12. Photos: bixi.com, Péter Dalos

13. COWI Hungary: Feasibility of implementing a public bicycle system in Budapest

14. COWI Hungary: Feasibility of implementing a public bicycle system in Budapest

15. COWI Hungary: Feasibility of implementing a public bicycle system in Budapest