M-RCBG Associate Working Paper No. 142

Bike-Sharing is Transit: Building Tools to Plan and Optimize Bike-Sharing Networks

Honorable Mention, 2020 Dunlop Thesis Prize


Dhruv Gupta

2020

Abstract

Urban America is infamous for its broader lack of public transit connectivity. Millions of Americans are termed as “transit-dependent”, which means they do not have immediate access to a vehicle or otherwise cannot drive and must use an alternative means of transportation. About 11% of Americans commute with public transit every day and in general 10-12% of Americans do not have access to a car, rendering them transit-dependent. These Americans are likely barred from vital services and getting to work. Unfortunately, even getting to public transit options can be a struggle for many urban residents as “first/last mile connectivity”, defined by the physical distance from the trip origin to the public transit station, can be poor in many urban environments. Too many Americans live in so-called “transit deserts”, areas where transportation demand significantly exceeds supply even in dense environments. As urban populations grow, the importance of sustainable, accessible urban transportation options grows, and bike-sharing systems provide an effective solution to both, offering an environmentally friendly, healthy, and congestion-limiting option for commuters.
 

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