Conference Papers 2024

Seminar
Day 1 (18 Sep 2024), Session 1, Micromobility, 11:00 - 12:30

Status
Accepted, documents submitted

Submitted by / Abstract owner
Michael Stiebe

Authors
Michael Stiebe, Competence Center for Mobility, Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts HSLU (presenter)
Widar von Arx, Competence Center for Mobility, Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts HSLU

Short abstract
The paper presents findings from a data-driven analysis of free-floating and station-based e-bike sharing system user characteristics and use patterns. Focusing on Basel, the study contributes empirical insights to the shared micromobility discourse.

Abstract
In the evolving landscape of global urban mobility, shared micromobility services, particularly e-bike sharing systems (EBSS), have come to the forefront as a promising avenue for fostering sustainable multimodal mobility systems. The surge in popularity of these systems across Swiss cities (e.g. Zurich, Bern, Basel, etc.) suggests a significant shift towards more environmentally friendly and efficient urban mobility. The detailed comparative analysis presented in this paper is a component of the larger research initiative "POTEBS - Investigating the Potential of E-Bike-Sharing Systems for Sustainable Mobility in Different Spatial Types" operational from December 2023 to January 2027 funded by the Swiss Federal Office of Energy (SFOE). The project is a collaborative endeavor between two academic institutions, Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts and the University of Basel, and two pioneering EBSS providers (one station-based, the other free-floating), which contribute extensive rental, transaction and user data for this research.
EBSS are heralded as a transformative element that could drive the transition towards sustainable multimodal mobility in urban and peri-urban/suburban areas. Such optimism is grounded in the belief that EBSS offer a viable alternative to private motorized transport (especially cars), enhancing urban mobility networks' accessibility and efficiency. Nonetheless, the literature, including studies by Julio et al. (2022), Zhou et al. (2023), Bieliński et al. (2021), Reck et al. (2021), Hess et al. (2019), and Guidon et al. (2019), introduces caution by documenting the potential adverse effect of public transport substitution by EBSS. This phenomenon necessitates a comprehensive exploration of the EBSS ecosystem to fully grasp its impact and the broader implications for urban and suburban mobility within the project's scope.
The focus on the Basel metropolitan tri-state area, a comparatively less examined context in micromobility research, permits an in-depth analysis based on datasets from over 1 million rentals and 80,000 users spanning more than four years (2018 to early 2024). This rich dataset, provided by our EBSS partners, facilitates a nuanced comparison of free-floating and station-based EBSS models. Such comparative analysis aims to delineate how these models meet diverse user needs and mobility patterns, thereby highlighting the collaborative project's value in advancing the understanding of shared micromobility and its potential for a sustainable mobility transformation.
The research methodology encompasses a data-science-based evaluation of user demographics and spatiotemporal usage patterns (rental duration, speed, spatial types traveled to and from, peak usage times, seasonal demand fluctuations) to identify distinctions between users of free-floating and station-based systems. This exploration is intended to reveal the specific characteristics and preferences that shape each system type's user base, providing insight into their respective contributions to the urban mobility ecosystem. Furthermore, this study explores the impact of weather on ridership and user behavior via a triangulation of high-resolution external weather data with rental datasets.
The results of the analysis reveal vast overlaps between free-floating and station-based EBSS usage, with significant peaks at around 7am, noon, and 5pm (the strongest peak) during the workweek. Weekend usage patterns, in contrast, do not show steep peaks in the morning or at noon but a steady increase towards the late afternoon. These patterns, along with a clear dominance of rentals during the workweek, suggest a prevalence of EBSS use for commuting purposes, aligning with findings from Reck et al. (2021). In both examined scenarios, we observed a remarkably high proportion of inactive or dormant users, reaching up to 90%. This pattern indicates that the Pareto Principle is almost fully manifested within our data sample, where approximately 20% of users are responsible for generating 80% of the total rental time. Spatial distribution analysis indicates that the majority of EBSS trips occur within urban centers, yet notably, in the free-floating case, about 25% of total trips extend into peri-urban regions, highlighting EBSS's potential for enhancing first/last mile connectivity. Furthermore, incorporating external weather data into our analysis revealed that temperature and precipitation significantly influence rental patterns. Specifically, both very high and very low temperatures negatively impact the number of rentals, as substantiated by our polynomial regression model (p < 0.0001, R-squared = 0.57). Moreover, increased precipitation levels were found to notably decrease rentals, a relationship quantified through a regression model with an R-squared of 0.70 (p < 0.0001). These insights into weather impacts underscore the need for weather-adaptive planning and operational strategies to ensure effective integration of EBSS into sustainable urban mobility frameworks.
This comparative analysis not only augments the existing body of knowledge on shared micromobility but also supplies critical empirical evidence to inform mobility stakeholders and inspire forthcoming empirical and experimental research.

Programme committee
Global Trends Impacting Transport

Topic
Mode-specific and inter-modal aspects