Some history

The first bike schemes were introduced in the 1960's at various sites across Europe but the idea did not take hold globally until much later in the 2000's when more countries adopted the concept.

In the US the scheme fell primarily under the umbrella of the local government and was located mainly in university and college towns.

Although the schemes may vary a little depending on the location the fundamentals of usage  are all generally the same with regards to payments and conditions of use. The rules and conditions are easy even for a newbie to follow.

Countries where they operate

Eight years ago, the Earth Policy Institute reported that there were over 500 cities across 49 countries that have bike share schemes. At the end of 2016, according to Wikipedia, that amount was already double, with roughly 1000 cities worldwide with a bike-sharing program. Although the past 18 months are unlikely to have encouraged new implementations due to the pandemic consequences, we can expect that number to grow further in the future, as countries are promoting alternative ways for mobility.

In the US alone, there are over sixty cities that operate bike share programmes. In 2019, New York broke a record by racking up over 100k rides in a single day.

There are many cities in Europe with established bike programmes. France, Denmark and the Netherlands are frontrunners in the improvement of these schemes, incorporating new technologies like GPS.

Amsterdam began a version of bike-share as early as 1965 with Copenhagen following soon after. Italy, Spain, the UK and other European countries have also closely followed suit during the last 15 years.

Hangzhou (China), sometime named one of the happiest cities in the world, has bike lanes on most major roads. The same goes for Mexico City where certain days of the week sees certain major roads closed to motor vehicles and cyclists hit the streets in droves.

How does it work?

Almost all bike-share companies use distinct bicycles with very sturdy frames that don't really resemble other commercially available personal-use bicycles like road bikes or mountain bikes. The bicycles are also well marked with bright colours and logos of the brand of the company and or sponsors and can be easily spotted and recognised.

The bike stations are dotted all over a specific area of the city and they are easily recognisable with the relevant branding. The bicycle stations resemble a normal bike rack for multiple bicycles but with a paystation alongside. The number of bikes stored at the station can range from ten to one hundred depending on the demand of that particular area. Bikes that are not in use are locked into the dock until it is released after payment.

The payment system can vary depending on the bike-share company. It may either have a credit card machine that can be swiped or a place to swipe your electronic key which is already loaded with your banking details. Once your payment has been registered by the payment kiosk a dock will unlock and you may take the bike.

This convenient payment system saves you from rummaging in your wallet for the correct change which is especially convenient during this pandemic where contactless payments are popular.

The bike-share company protects their bicycles from theft and vandalism by having your credit card details on record. If a bicycle is stolen or intentionally damaged while you were using it, you will be charged for the replacement. Bicycle replacement fees can be substantial and can set you back about $1200 if you've lost a bicycle from bike-share company Citi Bike, which operates in New York City and Miami.

The bicycle you've rented at one station is typically deposited at another station at your destination point. There are usually empty docks available at bike stations because employees monitor the circulation of their bikes across the system to ensure there is an even distribution. 
Stations that have too many bikes are transported to other stations.

Payment options

Most bike-share businesses have the following payment requirements:

1. A membership fee that must be paid before you start using the bicycles. This can either be a long term membership (e.g. you use the bikes regularly to commute to work) or it takes the form of a short-term pass (e.g you are visiting the area on holiday).
2. The second fee that is applicable is the actual timed usage of the bike. This is calculated usually in half an hour to one hour increments.

Some companies charge relatively higher membership fees but this is offset by the lower timed usage fees. Whilst other companies may opt for lower membership/pass fees they may steeply increase the price as the duration of use increases.  Others may even offer you the first half or one hour free. The idea is to encourage the user to use the bikes for shorter trips and minimize pointless cycling around on the same bike.

For some bike share companies when you return the bike at your destination bike station, it resets your timer to zero. You can then immediately rent another bike and maximise your journey during the free time. Any time in excess of the free period will be charged to your credit card.

Pros of bike sharing

• It's a cheap and convenient way of getting around compared to renting a car or using public transport.
• It's an efficient and fast way to travel that is stress free, especially in areas that lack parking spaces or where the public transport tends to get busy.
• It is easier than purchasing your own bicycle and you don't have to worry about maintenance or a flat tyre. Bike storage will not be your problem.
• You won't have the added worry of theft of your bicycle when you park it off at your destination.
• You don't have to be a committed cyclist-- you rent the bike only when you need it.
• Your daily bike commute to work could replace your expensive gym membership and you'll have the added benefit of fresh air.
• They are safer than e-scooters in terms of injury.

>> Read our article on the rise of electric scooters in the world.

Cons

• The clunky frames make the bike share bicycles heavy and unwieldy to use. If you're a novice, it may initially be tricky until you get the knack of it.
• Bad weather may make it impossible to bike your way into work every day all year round.
• Some areas may make it harder to cycle, e.g San Francisco has many bike share schemes but the area comprises many hills which are difficult to comfortably ride.
• Not all cities are bicycle-friendly with designated bike lanes. Road safety may be an issue when cyclists have to use the same roads as motorists.
• Most of the bike share schemes do not offer you a helmet when you borrow a bike.
• Using a bike share is limited to a fairly limited radius where the network of docking stations is located.

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