2013 Session: 225

• Impact of Weather Conditions on Capital Bikeshare Trips
  Abstract: Automated bicycle renting systems have seen tremendous growth over the last few years, with many cities implementing systems. Washington, DC, has one of the largest systems of bikesharing in the US and recently made all their usage data publically available for analysis. One issue with promoting bicycling as a reliable alternative mode of travel is the impact of unfavorable weather conditions on usage. In theory, usage can be affected by colder weather, precipitation, and excessive heat. The research presented here analyzes the effect of weather on the use of the Washington, DC, bikeshare system. Hourly weather data, including temperature, rainfall, snow, wind, fog, and humidity levels are linked to hourly usage data and statistical models linking both number of users and duration of use are estimated. Further, we evaluate trips from bikeshare stations within one quarter mile of Metro (subway) stations at times when Metro is operating. This allows us to determine whether Metro serves as a back-up option when weather conditions are unfavorable for bicycling. Results show that cold temperatures, rain, and high humidity levels reduce both the likelihood of using bikeshare and the duration of trips. Trips taken from bikeshare stations proximate to Metro stations are affected more by rain than trips not proximate to Metro stations and less likely when it is dark. This information is useful for understanding bicycling behavior and also for those planning bikeshare systems in other cities.
  Authors: Gebhart, Kyle; Noland, Robert B.
  Authors: Gebhart, Kyle; Noland, Robert B.
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Paper
  Subject: Pedestrians and Bicyclists; Planning and Forecasting
  Session: 225
  Paper Number: 13-0563
• Station-Level Forecasting of Bikesharing Ridership:Station Network Effects in Three U.S. Systems
  Abstract: This study investigates the effects of demographic and built environment characteristics near bike sharing stations on bike sharing ridership levels in three operational U.S. systems. While previous studies have focused on the analysis of a single system, the increasing availability of station-level ridership data creates the opportunity to compare experiences across systems; particular attention is paid to data quality and consistency issues raised by a multi-city analysis. This project also expands on previous studies by including the network effects of the size and spatial distribution of the bike sharing station network, contributing to a more robust regression model for predicting station ridership. The regression analysis identifies a number of variables as having statistically significant correlations with station-level bike sharing ridership: population density; retail job density; bike, walk, and transit commuters; median income; education; presence of bikeways; non-white population (negative association); days of precipitation (negative association); and proximity to a network of other bike sharing stations. Proximity to a greater number of other bike sharing stations exhibits a strong positive correlation with ridership in a variety of model specifications and while controlling for the other demographic and built environment variables, suggesting that access to a comprehensive network of stations is a critical factor supporting ridership. Relative to previous models, this model will be more widely applicable to a diverse range of communities and help those interested in adopting bike sharing systems to predict potential levels of ridership and identify station locations that will serve the greatest number of riders.
  Authors: Rixey, Rodney Alexander
  Authors: Rixey, Rodney Alexander
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Paper
  Subject: Pedestrians and Bicyclists; Planning and Forecasting
  Session: 225
  Paper Number: 13-1862
  Practice-Ready: Yes
• Public Bikesharing in North America: Early Operator Understanding and Emerging Trends
  Abstract: Public bikesharing—the shared use of a bicycle fleet—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. Since 2007, 27 IT-based programs have been deployed–26 are operational and one is now defunct. 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 United States and all four programs operating in Canada, as of January 2012. These programs account for 172,070 users and 5,238 bicycles and 44,352 users and 6,235 bicycles in the United States and Canada, respectively. This paper reviews early operator understanding of North American public bikesharing and discusses emerging trends for prospective program start-ups.
  Authors: Shaheen, Susan A.; Cohen, Adam; Martin, Elliot W.
  Authors: Shaheen, Susan A.; Cohen, Adam; Martin, Elliot W.
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Paper
  Subject: Pedestrians and Bicyclists; Planning and Forecasting
  Session: 225
  Paper Number: 13-4472
  Practice-Ready: Yes
• Are Bikeshare Users Different from Regular Cyclists? First Look at Short-Term Users, Annual Members, and Area Cyclists in the Washington, D.C., Region
  Abstract: In recent years, bikeshare systems have spread throughout the U.S. Despite the increase in systems and users, little is known about how bikeshare member demographics and travel patterns compare to characteristics of traditional bicyclists. To bridge the gap, this paper investigates bikeshare system users' travel behavior and develops a profile of user demographics comparing short-term (one day) users and annual members of Capital Bikeshare (CaBi) in Washington, DC with profiles of area bicyclists. Data originates from the regional household travel survey of 2007-2008, an intercept survey of short-term CaBi users, and an online survey of annual CaBi members. The analysis compares gender, race/ethnicity, age, and student status, as well as socio-economic status across the surveys. Moreover, the comparison includes trip purpose, helmet usage, and travel modes for trips that were replaced by bikesharing. Profiles of CaBi and area cyclists differ on many demographic and socioeconomic characteristics. Compared to area cyclists, CaBi short-term users and annual member are more likely female, younger, have lower household incomes, own fewer cars and fewer bicycles, and are more likely to cycle for utilitarian trip purposes. Furthermore, CaBi trips mainly replace transit and walk trips. CaBi short-term users and members show similar characteristics, but short-term users are more likely to ride for recreational trip purposes and less likely to wear a helmet. The study results indicate that bikesharing can potentially encourage new segments of society to cycle and increase overall bicycling mode share.
  Authors: Buck, Darren; Buehler, Ralph; Happ, Patricia; Rawls, Bradley; Chung, Payton; Borecki, Natalie
  Authors: Buck, Darren; Buehler, Ralph; Happ, Patricia; Rawls, Bradley; Chung, Payton; Borecki, Natalie
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Paper
  Subject: Pedestrians and Bicyclists; Planning and Forecasting
  Session: 225
  Paper Number: 13-5029
  Practice-Ready: Yes
• North America’s first e-bike share: A year of experience
  Abstract: The integration of electric bicycles (e-bikes) with bikesharing can potentially increase the utility of bike sharing by reducing some barriers to bicycling and increasing the amount of prospective users. North America’s first e-bike sharing system (cycleUshare) at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, offers a new, sustainable transportation option for students, faculty, and staff. The cycleUshare system is a small pilot test with two stations to research the technology and user experiences. This paper presents an overview of the cycleUshare system and reports experiences from the first year of operation. With 93 enrolled users, cycleUshare provides a unique opportunity to study not only the system use, but also how individual users make trips with both regular and electric bicycles and the factors that influence those trips. The study finds that only 22% of users account for 81% of the trips. Factors of speed and convenience play major roles in participant’s decisions to use the system, and speed and comfort are the most influential factors in selection of an e-bike over a regular bicycle. Most of the reported trips are class related, although e-bikes are found to be used for a wide variety of trip purposes. Walking is the mode most displaced by the system indicating that e-bike sharing expands user mobility. Additionally user perceptions about bicycle types are explored. This model of electric bikeshare is found to be effective at attracting users to both regular and electric bicycles and is capable of expanding user mobility.
  Authors: Langford, Brian Casey; Cherry, Christopher R.; Yoon, Taekwan; Worley, Stacy; Smith, David
  Authors: Langford, Brian Casey; Cherry, Christopher R.; Yoon, Taekwan; Worley, Stacy; Smith, David
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Paper
  Subject: Pedestrians and Bicyclists; Planning and Forecasting
  Session: 225
  Paper Number: 13-5107
  Practice-Ready: Yes
• Impact of Weather Conditions on Capital Bikeshare Trips
  Authors: Gebhart, Kyle
  Authors: Gebhart, Kyle
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Presentation
  Subject: Pedestrians and Bicyclists; Planning and Forecasting
  Session: 225
  Paper Number: 13-0563
• Impact of Weather Conditions on Capital Bikeshare Trips
  Authors: Noland, Robert
  Authors: Noland, Robert
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Presentation
  Subject: Pedestrians and Bicyclists; Planning and Forecasting
  Session: 225
  Paper Number: 13-0563
• Station-Level Forecasting of Bikesharing Ridership: Station Network Effects in Three U.S. Systems
  Authors: Rixey, Alex
  Authors: Rixey, Alex
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Presentation
  Subject: Pedestrians and Bicyclists; Planning and Forecasting
  Session: 225
  Paper Number: 13-1862
• Are Bikeshare Users Different from Regular Cyclists? First Look at Short-Term Users, Annual Members, and Area Cyclists in the Washington, D.C., Region
  Authors: Buck, Darren
  Authors: Buck, Darren
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Presentation
  Subject: Pedestrians and Bicyclists; Planning and Forecasting
  Session: 225
  Paper Number: 13-5029
• North America's first e-bike share: A year of experience
  Authors: Langford, Brian
  Authors: Langford, Brian
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Presentation
  Subject: Pedestrians and Bicyclists; Planning and Forecasting
  Session: 225
  Paper Number: 13-5107
• Public Bikesharing in North America: Early Operator Understanding and Emerging Trends
  Authors: Shaheen, Susan
  Authors: Shaheen, Susan
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Presentation
  Subject: Pedestrians and Bicyclists; Planning and Forecasting
  Session: 225
  Paper Number: 13-4472