Chen, Yan; Zeng, Degui; Deveci, Muhammet; Coffman, D'Maris; (2024) Life cycle analysis of bike sharing systems: A case study of Washington D.C. Environmental Impact Assessment Review , 106 , Article 107455. 10.1016/j.eiar.2024.107455.

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Abstract

In the past few years, shared bicycles have become a major form of green transport. There are two types of shared bicycle systems: pile-based and pile-less. These two types of systems have different carbon emission profiles when it comes to manufacture, operation and maintenance, and disposal. This research explicates these trade-offs through a thorough life cycle assessment of Capital Bikes' shared bikes in Washington D.C., USA. Our research indicates that while the installation of platforms and docks is the primary source of carbon emissions for dockless bikes, fleet management and maintenance are the primary sources of emissions for these vehicles. This is significant because the literature has shown that both dockless bikes and piling systems boost the resilience of transportation networks during pandemics or transport outages, albeit in different ways, when consumers may choose to utilize dockless bikes for exercise or to avoid using public transport. Planners should encourage proactive maintenance and fleet management to boost environmental advantages, as manufacturing operations generate five times as much carbon emissions as disposal activities. This study contrasted the Total Normal Environmental Impact (TNEI) of a dockless system with that of a piling system in our case study. The manufacturing process of a shared bicycle produces the largest amount of carbon emissions. The carbon dioxide emissions saved by a bicycle are about 0.07 kg per day. We also demonstrate that a net decrease in emissions in the Capital Bikes case study requires that each bike be utilized for a minimum of 591 days. In order to guarantee that the carbon emissions produced by shared bicycles are optimised, travelers should be incentivized to ride for longer and firms should strive to extend the usable life of their equipment.

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