The Role of Bicycle-sharing in the City: Analysis of the Irish Experience

Bicycle-sharing schemes have become an important piece of infrastructure in many cities across the world over the last decade. However, existing research investigating the role and impact of these schemes in cities is sparse. This research analyses the impact of a recently implemented scheme in Dublin, Ireland. Using evidence from 360 questionnaires, the paper examines four elements of the scheme: (1) the socioeconomic characteristics of the users; (2) its impact on modal choice; (3) its peak and off-peak functionality; and (4) its impact on driver awareness of cyclists. Results show the scheme is used predominantly by higher-income individuals, it has a different functionality during the peak and off-peak and has been indirectly successful at improving driver awareness towards cyclists.