How can shared bikes reduce carbon emissions in the real world? A theoretical analysis and its policy implications Online publication date: Sat, 23-Oct-2021
by Huimin Li; Ping Qiu; Jie Wang; Yufei Wang
International Journal of Global Warming (IJGW), Vol. 25, No. 2, 2021
Abstract: The bike-sharing program had experienced a boom since 2015 in many countries. Although society generally believes the shared bike is a low-carbon tool, why and how it can reduce carbon emissions in the real world is still an outstanding question. The study accounted for the shared bike's CO2 footprint, developed a theoretical model for the emission reduction mechanism of the bike-sharing system, and analysed the shared bike's emission reduction benefits based on China's case. Under the current transportation pattern, riding the shared bike for 1 kilometre can reduce 9.54g CO2. The study identifies four key variables of determining the emission reduction contribution of bike-sharing, including the travel distance, turnover rate, lifespan and replacement rate. The study recommends three key measures to improve bike-sharing management toward low carbon: building bicycle-friendly infrastructures, controlling the total number of the sharing-bikes and shaping a bike-friendly social environment.
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