Problems of Shared Bicycle Management in Japanese Cities

Abstract

Shared bicycle schemes have been increasing in Japan for about 10 years, but most are on a smaller scale and have lower usage rates than those in other countries. The first goal of this study was to identify the reasons for use by comparing three examples of shared cycle schemes in Japan. The second goal was to identify management problems.

Through analysis of usage dates, it was found that bicycle rental depends on the purpose of the users, such as sightseeing, commuting, and business. With shared cycles used mainly for commuting, ports where people can rent/return bicycles near railway stations receive more customers than other ports and the concentration is very high. With shared cycles used mainly for sightseeing, ports near sightseeing spots are used as often as those near railway stations and users are relatively decentralized.

The main management problem is low profitability. Previous studies based on use analysis included many proposals for the rearrangement of bicycles and ports to improve the usage rate. Through interviews with three operators, however, it was found that even shared cycle schemes with high usage rates cannot be financially independent. To solve this problem, it is necessary to establish administrative support systems, provide subsidies, and make public land available for ports. The enactment of other traffic policies such as constructing bicycle lanes, vehicle regulations in the inner city, etc. should proceed at the same time.