Report on Implementation of Bike Sharing Scheme

Introduction of Implementation of Bike Sharing Scheme:

The system of bike sharing is increasingly growing out throughout the world. The success of bike sharing programs can be seen by the measure of how the trips that are through automobile are reducing, it causes decrease in traffic congestion, and it results in improve in health of the bike riders through this program. Bike sharing has the ability to show the permanent change in cultural habits far away from the automobiles and it shift toward bicycles in order to create flexible and carbon free transportation alternative. This trend is spreading in many institutes and universities and corporate campuses and even in resorts, into the local commercial installation.

But still not all bike sharing programs end up successful. Some campuses and universities are unable to achieve their goal and they even hardly lasted for even their first year.

This paper will be giving many approaches in order to implement bike share in our culture. This paper will help in selecting the best approach according to the requirements and will give many ideas that can help in achieving success for this program.

A cultural shift of Implementation of Bike Sharing Scheme:

Such programs related to bike sharing give clear explanation that how can we decrease our dependency on transportation that is based on fossil fuel, by giving us safe, committed, reliable and affordable transportation system. Each program will end up with different goals. There are some examples of some successful programs;

·         Almost 42% of the Bicycle user demonstrate that they happily replaced cars with bikes rides (Denver B-Cycle, 2010)

·         It reduces traffic of parica to almost 5% in its initial year (Bremner, C., and Tourres, M., 2008)

·         Bicycle allow them to move around freely and more easily, said by 89% of valib’ users (Velib', 2008)

·         Almost 400 to 500 jobs are related to Montreal's Bixi (Bixi, 2010)

·         There is almost 44% increase in use of bicycle in initial year after the introduction of bike sharing (Buhrmann, S., 2008)

Implementation options of Bike Sharing Scheme:

After the selection for the goal of the project, now its time to arrange your requirement, abilities and budgets along with what is available. Here we are explaining 4 appropriate approaches for the implementation of bike sharing in the environment of universities and campus, along with pros and cons of every approach. It all depends on the condition we are applying on;

·         Ad Hoc

·         Bike Corral

·         Kiosk-Based

·         Automated Key Boxes

Ad Hoc Bicycle Sharing

It is a kind of straightforward path that give us an access to a pool bicycle sharing. It all depends on the integrity of the person to utilize and give care to the bike in its most bets way. Ad Hoc system emphasizes on informal design of the bicycle. With this approach bikes are spread and distributed along the campus and facility. Bikes are given with some typically symbol with paint or market so it can be differentiated as those bikes which are for share. Bikes cannot get locked and so anyone can use it freely at any time and at any place. With the help of this approach, not a big infra structure is required to get initiated with the work – just the need of some bikes. For those who has low budget, this option is quite possible or maybe not. But still it is easy to apply but this approach has low chances of success, reliability, and longevity as proven with time.

The most important benefit of using this implementation is the cost. This approach is least expensive in order to implement share bike system. There is no need of technology and support by the system. But the main loss with this approach is 1) no check and balance about the user of the bike 2) no permanent location for bike, as they can be left anywhere 3) more chances for bikes to get stollen 4) if bikes are not made for safety there is more exposure for liability

Bike Corral Style Bike Sharing

This is non automated and reasonably more formalized in order to manage the share system. So, in this approach bike are kept in permanent location like in the center of the lobby of any building or like student center in the campus. This approach is quite like the system of operation in libraries where there is simple check out and check in system at the desk to manage. This approach also allows the campus to check balance that how many people are using this approach and for how long. This also gave the opportunity to campus to register for the approach using.

This approach allows more responsible control and check and balance as compared to Ad Hoc system by having the chance of tracking that who is using the bike and it also give the central place for bike. Very much less expensive technology is required for this system and manpower like active student as manpower. The disadvantage is 1) more resources for arranging a staff in centralized location for accountability purpose which also include the cost along with it. 2) it reduces the convivence because the user will need to pick up and drop the bike at the same position during the hours of working even if that location is not feasible for the user.

Automated Key Boxes of Bike Sharing Scheme

This is the more advanced approach in managing the bike sharing scheme and even the management of the system usage and access. Bike station along with electronic key boxes that can have access to control the bikes are used in geographically dispersed areas. They are located near center of activities or the centralized location like libraries, or campus or dining halls as well as beside parking lots and many other locations. Bikes can be placed in permanent location where user can have access to its benefits.

The access to the system is controlled and managed by the administrative software. They can electronically lock and release the bikes to its users. Every user will have their own personal password to have access to the bike. When the user will need the bike, they give the automated key boxer its pass code so that the user will have the access to the bike in order to borrow it for a while.

The advantage of automated key boxer is 1) they do not need any bike station; it only requires standard racks in order to keep the bike standing. 2) the system is accessible 24/7. 3) they are with locks so they can be safe at anyplace 4) the automated nature makes the management very easy and feasible and within approach of everyone.

The disadvantages include 1) this is a very expensive approach as compared to other approaches 2) user will need to pick and drop the bike at the usual place 3) every bike will be needing its own key box. 4) the system will be needing local management and monitoring system.

Kiosk-Based Bicycle sharing

This approach is more recognizable by automated bike station and it control electronically. They are at permanent location around the campus. The electronics may differ along with the system but they have robust backend software in order to manage the overall system of the bike. They have ability to register new users and accept their payment. This approach is secure and available to everyone.