Title: How can shared bikes reduce carbon emissions in the real world? A theoretical analysis and its policy implications

Authors: Huimin Li; Ping Qiu; Jie Wang; Yufei Wang

Addresses: Beijing Climate Change Response Research and Education Centre, Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture (BUCEA), No. 1, Zhanlanguan Road, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100044, China ' Beijing Climate Change Response Research and Education Centre, Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture (BUCEA), No. 1, Zhanlanguan Road, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100044, China ' Beijing Climate Change Response Research and Education Centre, Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture (BUCEA), No. 1, Zhanlanguan Road, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100044, China ' Department for Consulting and Research, Management World Journal, No. 2, Jintaili Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100026, China

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.

Keywords: bike-sharing program; bicycle-friendly infrastructures; carbon emissions; CO₂ footprint; China; low-carbon transportation; transportation pattern; turnover rate.

DOI: 10.1504/IJGW.2021.118363

International Journal of Global Warming, 2021 Vol.25 No.2, pp.242 - 256

Received: 06 Jul 2020
Accepted: 15 Mar 2021
Published online: 23 Oct 2021 *

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