How Dockless Bike Sharing Changes Lives: An Analysis of Chinese Cities

Abstract

Dockless bike-share systems have experienced unprecedented growth in China since 2016. This report investigated the comprehensive nationwide impact of dockless systems in 12 Chinese cities with relatively high bike-share usage and a thriving bike-share economy: Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Wuhan, Hangzhou, Nanjing, Xi’an, Jinan, Xiamen and Lanzhou. The study found that, with effective management and safe infrastructure, dockless bike-share systems can be an excellent last-mile urban mobility solution that enhances connectivity to public transit, reduces carbon emissions by replacing motorized trips, and improves public health by preventing thousands of premature deaths.