Is bike-sharing the future of modern transportation?

Urban commuting is changing, and it’s no longer limited to buses, trains and cabs, which, not to mention, are major carbon emitters. Bike sharing is the new fad, and research shows that it is here to stay owing to its far-reaching benefits.

A study by EY, co-funded by the European Union, shows that bike-sharing policies in member nations are doing more than just cut emissions. It is making urban mobility more “seamless, efficient, and attractive”.

From cleaner air to healthier citizens to generating jobs, bike sharing is proving to be a game-changer in the modern transportation system.

Bike-sharing programs cut about 46,000 tons of CO2e each year, but their greatest impact goes far beyond emissions. By reducing car use, they help clean the air, preventing nearly a thousand chronic illnesses and saving around €40 million in healthcare expenses. They also help unclog roads, freeing up 760,000 hours otherwise lost to traffic. In addition, these systems sustain 6,000 direct jobs and boost local economies, all while offering an affordable alternative to driving, reducing transportation costs by as much as 90 per cent.

What is bike sharing?

Bike sharing is a form of public ride system where commuters can rent bicycles for trips around a city.

Users can find and unlock bikes through a mobile app or smart card. They pay based on how long they ride, then return the bike to a docking station or a designated area if it’s a dockless system. This flexibility makes it useful for both daily commutes and occasional rides.

Operators use technology to track bike locations, maintenance needs, and demand. Many cities link bike sharing with public transport to cut traffic, lower emissions, and promote healthier, more sustainable travel.

How is it crucial?

The EY study has found that bike sharing policies are directly addressing European citizens’ concerns, as they are cheaper alternatives that complement other modes of transportation and can be more easily deployed in underserved areas.

“Bike-sharing schemes bridge the first and last mile, extending the reach of metro, tram, and rail networks. They enable seamless multimodal journeys, improve urban transport efficiency, and make public transit more attractive, accessible, and convenient,” the report noted.

In terms of connectivity, up to 55 per cent in the EU have reported that bike-sharing, when combined with their regular public transportation modes, is more resilient and efficient.

For instance, in Norway’s Oslo, bike sharing complements the metro and rail networks by serving perpendicular commute routes and extending reach to areas less accessible by
transit.

At the same time, public bike-sharing schemes cut individual mobility costs by up to 90 per cent, reducing transport inequalities and boosting social inclusion.

Go green

Bike sharing can directly contribute to the European Commission’s carbon emission goals, the EY study found.

In 2020, transport accounted for almost one-fourth of Europe’s greenhouse gas emissions, remaining higher than in 1990. Urban passenger transport alone contributed 24 per cent of total EU transport emissions. Under current policies, emissions are expected to fall by only 22 per cent by 2050, well short of the 90 per cent reduction required to reach climate neutrality.

This is where bike-sharing can come into play. An overhaul of the public transport system by introducing cleaner vehicles, expanding shared mobility, and shifting toward low-carbon modes like bike-sharing will cut CO2 emissions significantly.

Bike-sharing can save lives quite literally. The EY study shows that the scheme prevents nearly 1,000 chronic disease cases per year, saving €40M in public health costs.

Generating jobs

The report says that bike-sharing has created about 6,000 local jobs and generated more than €200M in wages across Europe.

One case study is that of VéloPartage, Geneva’s official public bike-sharing network, jointly operated by Donkey Republic and the non-profit Genèveroule. The system includes 1,440 bikes spread across 620 stations in 22 municipalities.

Donkey Republic supplies the bikes and app-based access, while Genèveroule handles maintenance, logistics, and staffing. By 2023, the program employed 27 people, combining permanent staff with temporary workers, many of whom are students.