Relationship between shared micromobility and public transit: The differences between shared bikes and shared E-bikes

Abstract

Extensive research has been conducted on the usage patterns and potential impacts of shared micromobility, yet the distinct relationships with public transit between shared bikes and shared E-bikes – the two main micromobility modes in China – remain unexplored. Examining the potentially distinct modal shift patterns away from public transit is essential to understand the landscape of different micromobility modes and their different disruptions to traditional transportation modes. To bridge this gap, this study analyzed shared micromobility trip data from Ningbo, China, aiming to quantify the relationship between shared micromobility and public transit, and differentiate between the interactions of shared bikes and E-bikes with public transit. We employed a geospatial-based approach to categorize each shared micromobility trip into three types: Modal Substitution (MS), Modal Integration (MI), and Modal Complementation (MC), based on their interactions with buses and subways. Then we explored the spatial and temporal patterns of the shares of MS, MI, and MC trips, and investigated factors influencing these varied relationships using Spatial Autoregressive (SAR) models. Our findings indicate that shared E-bikes more frequently substitute for public transit, whereas shared bikes are predominantly used in MC roles. There are notable temporal and spatial variations in the usage of shared E-bikes and bikes: temporally, there is a morning peak of shared E-bikes that substitute public transit, and spatially, E-bike sharing has a higher concentration of substitution in suburbs while bike sharing has a higher concentration of complementation in the outer areas. The observed differences between E-bikes and bikes regarding their relationship with public transit are largely influenced by trip distance, speed, and public transit characteristics. This study highlights the importance of recognizing the diverse interactions between different shared micromobility modes and public transit, and sheds light on the development and management of shared micromobility and public transit systems.