Understanding Users’ Perceptions of Bicycle-Sharing Systems in Chinese Cities: Evidence from Beijing and Guangzhou

Decades ago, bicycles used to play an important role in urban transportation in Chinese cities, but they have been gradually replaced by private cars, metro, buses, and some other modes, owning to the fast-growing mobility demand as a result of urban expansion and motorization. However, in recent ye...

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Main Authors: Yi Zhu, Wanchen Diao, Hu Zhao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-09-01
Series:Urban Science
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2413-8851/7/3/95
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author Yi Zhu
Wanchen Diao
Hu Zhao
author_facet Yi Zhu
Wanchen Diao
Hu Zhao
author_sort Yi Zhu
collection DOAJ
description Decades ago, bicycles used to play an important role in urban transportation in Chinese cities, but they have been gradually replaced by private cars, metro, buses, and some other modes, owning to the fast-growing mobility demand as a result of urban expansion and motorization. However, in recent years, with the development of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and the initiative of the sharing economy, bike-sharing systems (BSSs) have been implemented extensively in Chinese cities. Their usage patterns can be revealed via system-generated data, yet less is known about users’ attitudes towards and preferences for these systems. In this study, we draw on two surveys conducted in Guangzhou and Beijing on the perceptions of travelers using BSSs to estimate the effect of demographic factors, bicycle ownership, and trip-level factors on the willingness and potential frequency of BSS usage. In addition, a latent class model is built to analyze the different aspects of theses systems concerned with different types of urban travelers. It is found that respondents’ age, occupation, income, mode combination, and the proximity of origin or destination to the docking station, etc., influence the willingness and frequency of using BSSs. In addition, respondents generally value features such as the proximity of docking stations to trip destinations, safety to ride, and appropriate level of fare. However, different latent classes show a different preference for other features of BSSs. According to the model results, proposals are given for the improvement of the existing systems in Chinese cities.
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spelling doaj.art-c3f9c2d54ee9418680c43e25d1d840162023-11-19T13:18:13ZengMDPI AGUrban Science2413-88512023-09-01739510.3390/urbansci7030095Understanding Users’ Perceptions of Bicycle-Sharing Systems in Chinese Cities: Evidence from Beijing and GuangzhouYi Zhu0Wanchen Diao1Hu Zhao2School of Public Economics and Administration, Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, Shanghai 200437, ChinaSchool of Architecture and Urban Planning, Shandong Jianzhu University, Jinan 250101, ChinaSchool of Architecture and Urban Planning, Shandong Jianzhu University, Jinan 250101, ChinaDecades ago, bicycles used to play an important role in urban transportation in Chinese cities, but they have been gradually replaced by private cars, metro, buses, and some other modes, owning to the fast-growing mobility demand as a result of urban expansion and motorization. However, in recent years, with the development of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and the initiative of the sharing economy, bike-sharing systems (BSSs) have been implemented extensively in Chinese cities. Their usage patterns can be revealed via system-generated data, yet less is known about users’ attitudes towards and preferences for these systems. In this study, we draw on two surveys conducted in Guangzhou and Beijing on the perceptions of travelers using BSSs to estimate the effect of demographic factors, bicycle ownership, and trip-level factors on the willingness and potential frequency of BSS usage. In addition, a latent class model is built to analyze the different aspects of theses systems concerned with different types of urban travelers. It is found that respondents’ age, occupation, income, mode combination, and the proximity of origin or destination to the docking station, etc., influence the willingness and frequency of using BSSs. In addition, respondents generally value features such as the proximity of docking stations to trip destinations, safety to ride, and appropriate level of fare. However, different latent classes show a different preference for other features of BSSs. According to the model results, proposals are given for the improvement of the existing systems in Chinese cities.https://www.mdpi.com/2413-8851/7/3/95bike-sharing systemstated preference analysismultinomial logitlatent class analysis
spellingShingle Yi Zhu
Wanchen Diao
Hu Zhao
Understanding Users’ Perceptions of Bicycle-Sharing Systems in Chinese Cities: Evidence from Beijing and Guangzhou
Urban Science
bike-sharing system
stated preference analysis
multinomial logit
latent class analysis
title Understanding Users’ Perceptions of Bicycle-Sharing Systems in Chinese Cities: Evidence from Beijing and Guangzhou
title_full Understanding Users’ Perceptions of Bicycle-Sharing Systems in Chinese Cities: Evidence from Beijing and Guangzhou
title_fullStr Understanding Users’ Perceptions of Bicycle-Sharing Systems in Chinese Cities: Evidence from Beijing and Guangzhou
title_full_unstemmed Understanding Users’ Perceptions of Bicycle-Sharing Systems in Chinese Cities: Evidence from Beijing and Guangzhou
title_short Understanding Users’ Perceptions of Bicycle-Sharing Systems in Chinese Cities: Evidence from Beijing and Guangzhou
title_sort understanding users perceptions of bicycle sharing systems in chinese cities evidence from beijing and guangzhou
topic bike-sharing system
stated preference analysis
multinomial logit
latent class analysis
url https://www.mdpi.com/2413-8851/7/3/95
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