Public Bicycle Sharing System Research in Suburban Area: Case Study in Shanghai, China

摘要

This study presents systematic research on the use of Public Bicycle Sharing System (PBSS) insuburban areas. We focus on users’ behavioral characteristics and other related factors on usage,and use a clustering model and Structural Equation Model (SEM) to do the analysis. Somesuggestions are presented to improve this sustainable mobility and relieve traffic pressure. Basedon State Preference survey in Minghang District and Pudong Zhangjiang, all the respondentscould be classified into two main groups according to usage, Mode A and Mode B, throughclustering analysis. Usage patterns consist of frequency, travel purpose, riding distance and useform (transfer or not). Users of Mode A view PBSS as a feeder to conventional public transit andmainly cycle in commuting, while most users of Mode B ride public bicycle with no-transfer forleisure travel. In addition, these two groups are different in terms of personal characteristics,household characteristics, degree of satisfaction and choosing reasons. Furthermore, Mode Bcould be separated into two subgroups based on frequency. The age and education background ofthese two subgroups, B-1 and B-2, are different as well. Two SEMs are established based onLevel of Service (LOS) and users’ attributes respectively. The results indicate that personalcharacteristics are the main factor influencing usage patterns and travel purpose is of importanceto other mode variables, but the evidence that change in LOS would cause remarkable changes inusage mode is not significant. Finally suggestions are put forward on the development of PBSS insuburban areas.