Imagine not having to worry about last mile connectivity or walking a kilometre or more between bus or tram stops to reach your destination while also lugging your work or school bag. Imagine not having to use your car for short errands which are not exactly walkable but not enough to justify taking your car out either. Or imagine being a tourist, who needs to walk at least 10 kilometres a day, exploring the sights of a new city. Is there an easier way to do this? The answer is yes! And the solution was first attempted 60 years ago.
The first bike share system was executed in 1965, in Amsterdam by a Dutch group called Provo. Their intention was to close off central Amsterdam to all motorised vehicles – motorbikes as well. The system called Witte Fietsen (White bikes) bought about 50 bicycles, painted them white and placed them around the city to be used by the public. Predictably, with no system of deposits or payments, many of the bikes ended up stolen, damaged or impounded by the police.
After this rocky start, bike share systems didn’t really take off till the 2000s, and now there are many such systems around the world that are changing lives and cities for the better. Let’s take a spin around the globe to check out some bike sharing schemes.
New York’s Citi Bike, started in 2013, gained 128,149 annual subscribers ten years after it began. In August 2023, the system recorded over 4 million rides! Favoured by residents of NYC as well as tourists, Citi Bikes is successful due to its proximity to mass transit and the last mile support it provides to users of subways, buses, taxis, commuter rail and ferries. Electric bikes are available too.
There are many other bike share systems in the USA but none of them enjoy this same level of success. This might be due to user experiences with shared bikes, as was reported by those interviewed for this piece. Nirupama Sridhar who has used MoGo in Detroit says, “I love that cities are making green transportation a priority! But some of the bikes aren’t user-friendly. They are usually configured for the average white male - a good 6 inches taller than me. And so, the seat height needs adjusting, which is fine, but it isn’t intuitive on some of the bicycles.”
In S. America, the bike sharing segment is literally booming with a value of 13.5 million USD and 55 bike sharing systems as of 2022. Brazil’s share of this pie stands at 40%, with systems like Tembici, Bike Sampa and Yellow Mobility Solutions. In Sao Paolo, Bike Sampa has around 270 stations and 2700 bikes. With solar powered docking stations and a focus on eco-mobility, most bike sharing systems provide a relief for commuters who want to avoid long hours stuck in traffic jams. A study conducted across 9 capital cities of S. America found that 73% of their respondents chose bike sharing over being stuck in traffic. Other interesting findings were that 40% of bike-share users are women, 72% felt their lives had improved, 80% reported feeling freer and more independent. We cross the Atlantic Ocean to arrive at the United Kingdom where London’s public cycle hire scheme Santander boasts of 800 docking stations and a fleet of 12000 bicycles. Other bicycle providers are Lime and Forest. Transport of London’s ambitious plan involves expanding and connecting cycle routes across the city so that 40% of Londoners are reached by 2030. Amar, (a visitor to London and a Chennai resident) also interviewed for this piece, used a Lime bicycle recently and has this to report: The big advantage is that you can find them anywhere. The important thing is that they are on a pay and use basis so that typically ensures that there is a basic level of quality and serviceability maintained.
A longish swim from London to Paris leads us to Velib Metropole – one of the largest bike shares of Europe. Offering both traditional and e-cycles and connected to the major transportation systems, Velib Metropole has 1400 stations (averaging at 1 station every 300 metres!) 19,000 bikes (40% of which are electric) – little wonder that it recorded over 4 million trips in October 2022. Paris’ commitment to reducing cars and congestion on the roads thereby reducing air pollution led to expanding their cycle lanes by 120 km leading to a whopping 400 km of cycle lanes within the city. Bike sharing and bike friendly measures have led to a 50% reduction in air pollution levels within the city.
African nations have also joined the worldwide push to make cities more liveable and less car oriented. Bike sharing schemes include Baddel in Egypt, Smoove in Morocco, Asambe in Zambia and Awa Bike in Nigeria. The first phase of Cairo Bike was implemented in 2022, with 250 bicycles over 250 stations. There are plans to implement cycle lanes along these routes to improve safety. Awa bikes in Nigeria is used mostly by the students of LASU to go between various college departments, banking services etc
In Asia we find an example of an over ambitious cycle share programme that led to its own doom. Ofo, one of the largest bike share systems in China wanted to present the public with an alternative to traveling in cars, easing congestion and offering a low cost and convenient option to travel shorter distances. A lack of regulation and fierce competition literally flooded the market with millions of bicycles, leading to cycles being dumped in rivers, fields creating what came to be known as China’s bicycle graveyards.
The YouBike sharing system in Taiwan was rolled out in 2009 and by 2023 saw an incredible total of 653 million rentals! With bike lanes within the city and a scenic 960 km route called Cycling Route 1 that circles the entire island and takes 12 days to cover, cycling has become part of Taiwan’s landscape. A fun fact for movie and cycle buffs is that cycling in Taiwan became romanticised after the release of a film in 2006 – Island Etude; a story of a deaf man who cycled almost 1000 km around the island.
And what about Amsterdam, the city where it all began? Today, with a little over 9 lakh residents and an almost equal number of bicycles, there needs to be no more encouragement for bicycles as a form of transport. Only 19% use their cars on a daily basis thus proving that 2 wheels are better than 4! Bike sharing is promoted by the city council and is almost a mandatory way to explore the city.
When done right, bike sharing provides a solution to many of the problems that plague cities. Cleaner air, healthier lifestyles, lower travel costs, and fewer traffic jams – it’s an achievable dream. We’ve seen cities like Paris lead the way, proving how fewer cars and more bikes can transform urban life. Locals love the easy commute while tourists love exploring a new city on bikes. The city is literally transformed with better air, quieter roads, and more vibrant street life.
But for bike sharing to work well, systems need to be user-friendly and reliable. That means comfortable, adjustable bikes that are well-maintained, and enough docking stations in the right places. It also means good integration with buses, metros, and other public transport – plus safe, dedicated bike lanes that give cyclists the confidence to ride. And of course, smart pricing and thoughtful planning between city authorities and private operators can help build systems that truly serve people – and the planet.
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