Examining the Factors Influencing Bikeshare Use in the UK: Implications for Scheme Planning

Across cities worldwide, shared micromobility, particularly bikeshare, has supported sustainable transport through encouraging active travel, helping to reduce carbon emissions and enhance accessibility. However, schemes have faced planning challenges, leading to inefficient resource allocation and systematic under-use, resulting in low profitability and even closures. To address this, the thesis aims to examine the factors that influence bikeshare use and how they can inform bikeshare scheme planning. The research employs a mixed-methods approach, integrating statistical analysis and discrete optimisation to inform bikeshare planning, which is validated with practitioner interviews. Existing bikeshare planning guidelines often lack specificity regarding local urban context. To address this, urban morphology data is integrated to inform context-sensitive scheme planning. The thesis fills a methodological gap in bikeshare analysis by employing cluster analysis to categorise UK cities according to their morphological characteristics and model their association with bikeshare use. It is shown that denser residential neighbourhoods with greater accessibility are consistently linked to trip generation, while accessible suburban neighbourhoods demonstrate more varied associations. Recognising that station network planning often lacks consideration of morphology, the thesis develops an approach for optimising station networks using morphology cluster data. An evolutionary algorithm is applied, and GIS techniques are used to visualise and quantify the morphological characteristics of the optimised station networks. The approach provides an additional perspective concerning the spatial dynamics of optimising station networks. The method illustrates an efficient and scalable way to automate station allocation, informing recommendations for adapting network design to local infrastructure, road layouts, and accessibility requirements. Building on the quantitative findings, interviews with UK practitioners explore the gap between academic theory and practical bikeshare implementation. Addressing a lack of qualitative insights in the UK context, the findings highlight real-world planning challenges, including determining appropriate density targets, overcoming site assessment difficulties, and the importance of tailoring decisions to specific neighbourhood contexts. The thesis makes a significant empirical contribution by providing practical recommendations grounded in both data-driven analysis and the realities faced by practitioners. Guidance is offered to enhance bikeshare planning and mitigate under-use, while opening new avenues for further research to foster innovation in this dynamic and influential field.

Name dc:type.qualificationname

PhD

Level dc:type.qualificationlevel

Doctoral

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

De Montfort University

Year dc:date.issued

2025

Author dc:creator

• Moore, Patrick

Licence

• https://dora.dmu.ac.uk/bitstreams/dc429260-12a5-405e-a8c0-8317555417c0/download