Factors influencing bike share membership : an analysis of Melbourne and Brisbane

The number of bike share programs has increased rapidly in recent years and there are currently over 700 programs in operation globally. Australia’s two bike share programs have been in operation since 2010 and have significantly lower usage rates compared to Europe, North America and China. This study sets out to understand and quantify the factors influencing bike share membership in Australia’s two bike share programs located in Melbourne and Brisbane. An online survey was administered to members of both programs as well as a group with no known association with bike share. A logistic regression model revealed several significant predictors of membership including reactions to mandatory helmet legislation, riding activity over the previous month, and the degree to which convenience motivated private bike riding. In addition, respondents aged 18 - 34 and having docking station within 250m of their workplace were found to be statistically significant predictors of bike share membership. Finally, those with relatively high incomes increased the odds of membership. These results provide insight as to the relative influence of various factors impacting on bike share membership in Australia. The findings may assist bike share operators to maximize membership potential and help achieve the primary goal of bike share – to increase the sustainability of the transport system.

[1]  S. Washington,et al.  Statistical and Econometric Methods for Transportation Data Analysis , 2010 .

[2]  Elliot K. Fishman,et al.  Oil vulnerability in Melbourne , 2010 .

[3]  Jelke Bethlehem,et al.  Applied Survey Methods: A Statistical Perspective , 2009 .

[4]  Patricia L. Mokhtarian,et al.  Travel as a desired end, not just a means , 2005 .

[5]  J. Sallis,et al.  Bicycling to university: evaluation of a bicycle-sharing program in Spain. , 2015, Health promotion international.

[6]  Simon Washington,et al.  Barriers and facilitators to public bicycle scheme use : a qualitative approach , 2012 .

[7]  M. Wardman,et al.  Factors influencing the propensity to cycle to work , 2007 .

[8]  D. Rojas-Rueda,et al.  The health risks and benefits of cycling in urban environments compared with car use: health impact assessment study , 2011, BMJ : British Medical Journal.

[9]  J. Pucher,et al.  Bicycling renaissance in North America? An update and re-appraisal of cycling trends and policies , 2011 .

[10]  Christopher Flavin,et al.  Vital Signs: The Trends That Are Shaping Our Future , 1992 .

[11]  Simon Washington,et al.  Statistical and Econometric Methods for Transportation Data Analysis (2nd Edition) , 2010 .

[12]  Simon Washington,et al.  Bike share's impact on car use: evidence from the United States, Great Britain, and Australia , 2014 .

[13]  Susan Shaheen,et al.  Public Bikesharing in North America: Early Operator and User Understanding , 2012 .

[14]  E. Fishman.  The impacts of public bicycle share schemes on transport choice , 2011 .

[15]  R. Shephard.  Use of a New Public Bicycle Share Program in Montreal, Canada , 2012 .

[16]  P. Cox,et al.  Cycling and Society , 2012 .

[17]  Simon Washington,et al.  Understanding the fear of bicycle riding in Australia , 2012 .

[18]  C. Fischer,et al.  Prevalence of bicycle helmet use by users of public bikeshare programs. , 2012, Annals of emergency medicine.

[19]  Arnim H. Meyburg,et al.  SURVEY METHODS FOR TRANSPORT PLANNING , 1995 .

[20]  Jan Garrard,et al.  Cycling down under: a comparative analysis of bicycling trends and policies in Sydney and Melbourne , 2011 .

[21]  Simon Washington,et al.  Bike Share: A Synthesis of the Literature , 2013 .

[22]  Stacey Guzman,et al.  China's Hangzhou Public Bicycle , 2011 .

[23]  G. Rose,et al.  Promoting transportation cycling for women: the role of bicycle infrastructure. , 2008, Preventive medicine.

[24]  Jan Garrard,et al.  Healthy revolutions: promoting cycling among women , 2003 .

[25]  Jan Garrard,et al.  Cycling: getting Australia moving: barriers, facilitators and interventions to get more Australians physically active through cycling , 2008 .

[26]  Daniel Fuller,et al.  Use of a new public bicycle share program in Montreal, Canada. , 2011, American journal of preventive medicine.