Bicycle acceptance on campus: Influence of the built environment and shared bikes

Abstract In view of the efforts deployed in many countries to reinstate bicycling as a regular practice, the recent rise of Dock-less App-based Shared-Bike (DASB) systems appears as a new vehicle for this expansion. Realizing how crucial their potential is, we provide a thorough assessment of bicycle acceptance in general and DASB in particular. For an analysis to include perceptions related to the built environment, it would require an investigation ground that complies with three major conditions: (i) displays a common urban environment typology; (ii) features a high bicycle modal share; and (iii) presents a high penetration level of DASB. The most restrictive requirement being the common typology, we focused on university campuses to ensure consistency over each area investigated. After selecting five campuses across Shanghai, a pioneer city for DASB featuring one of the highest bicycle modal share worldwide, we surveyed 1131 respondents about their perception and use of the bicycle. A detailed analysis of our statistical model reveals that cycling is appreciated and even encouraged by a substantial, yet reasonable bicycle density. Moreover, DASB systems appear to paradoxically improve the cycling experience while generating new nuisances such as an increase in perceived danger and major parking issues. We believe our results could have a profound impact on how cycling infrastructures are thought about and realised. Indeed, understanding how DASBs affect the built environment could help city planners to overcome the major setbacks arising from DABS’s fast paced expansion while still encouraging the regular practice of cycling.