Is bike-sharing only a game-changer for large cities?

No significant differences can be observed in the modal share of bikes in small, medium or large cities. However, fewer bike-sharing systems are offered in smaller cities. Why is that the case?

Various types of bike-sharing systems are flooding our cities right now. They range from dock-based systems which are only available during the summer season to free-floating models that are available 24/7 and include different types of bikes such as e-bikes or cargo bikes. In order to operate a bike-sharing system that benefits a smaller city, a suitable system needs to be found in a first step, as the advantages of all the different types of bike-sharing systems are highly dependent on the city context. Statistical data on existing bike-sharing systems gives us a first idea of which bike-sharing systems might be more suitable for certain cities.

Towns and small cities tend to use systems with smaller bike stations (6.2 bikes per station is the median [1]). Thus, an increased number of pick-up and drop-off points can be offered even though the quantity of bikes is rather low. Additionally, the systems tend to be closed during the night. In contrast to bike-sharing systems in larger cities, smaller cities tend to offer its services partially free of charge — 75% of the existing bike-sharing systems in small cities are free of charge for at least the first 30 minutes of usage [1].

Especially for small cities with a limited offer of public modes of transport, suitable bike-sharing systems can enhance the accessibility of further options for mobility, such as a train station which are not within walking distance. To sum it up, bike-sharing systems are not only suitable for big cities — in fact, they can be a real game-changer for smaller cities as well. The public bike-sharing system in the Estonian city of Tartu (approx. 93,000 inhabitants) represents a good example of a successful implementation of a bike-sharing system in a small city.

Author: Jana Helder, Solution Development Engineer, BABLE