Effects of new dock-less bicycle-sharing programs on cycling: a retrospective study in Shanghai

OBJECTIVES: To examine (1) the effect of new dock-less bicycle-sharing programmes on change in travel mode and (2) the correlates of change in travel mode. DESIGN: A retrospective natural experimental study. SETTING: 12 neighbourhoods in Shanghai. PARTICIPANTS: 1265 respondents were recruited for a retrospective study in May 2017. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Prevalence of cycling before and after launch of dock-less bicycle-sharing programme. RESULTS: The proportion of participants cycling for transport increased from 33.3% prior to the launch of the bicycle-sharing programmes to 48.3% 1 year after the launch (p<0.001). Being in the age group of 30–49 years (OR 2.28; 95% CI 1.30 to 4.00), living within the inner ring of the city (OR 2.27; 95% CI 1.22 to 4.26), having dedicated bicycle lanes (OR 1.37, 95% CI 1.12 to 1.68) and perceiving riding shared bicycles as fashionable (OR 1.46, 95% CI 1.21 to 1.76) were positively associated with adopting cycling for transport. Access to a public transportation stop/station (OR 0.82, 95% CI 0.67 to 0.99) was inversely correlated with adopting cycling for transport. CONCLUSIONS: Dock-less bicycle sharing may promote bicycle use in a metropolitan setting. Findings from this study also highlight the importance of cycling-friendly built environments and cultural norms as facilitators of adopting cycling.