Examining spatio-temporal trip patterns of bicycle sharing systems in Southern European island cities

Abstract

Bicycle sharing systems (BSS) have been implemented in cities worldwide in an attempt to promote cycling. Analysing BSS usage in ‘starter’ cycling cities in Southern Europe (Limassol, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and Malta) can aid in understanding how BSS use and cycling can be promoted in such a context. A year of trip data is used to understand to what extent the BSS is characterized by tourist use or by local residents, trips are classified based on trip type, trip duration and diurnal and seasonal usage patterns. An analysis of the origin-destination matrices highlights spatial patterns and temporal dynamics, and analysis of the spatial coverage is used to calculate what percentage of the city's population is served by the BSS. The comparative analysis shows that despite sharing commonalities, the cities exhibit differences in BSS use: while in Limassol BSS use is mainly for leisure, in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and Malta there is more cycling for transport. Investing in connections between the BSS, public transport, points-of-interests and cycling infrastructure can encourage more cycling. In all cities there is scope to integrate the BSS with public transport and promote the service amongst tourists and visitors.