Exploring the Effects of the Built Environment on Two Transfer Modes for Metros: Dockless Bike Sharing and Taxis

Ying Ni,Jiaqi Chen

doi:10.3390/su12052034

Abstract

The success of metro systems depends on effective multimodal solutions that bridge the first-and-last-mile gaps. Both dockless bike sharing (DBS) and taxis are important feeder modes for metros, which provide on-demand travel options with high flexibility and accessibility. Based on one-week trip data of DBS and taxis during a concurrent period in Beijing, China, the paper aims to compare the temporal-spatial distribution of two modes as first-and-last-mile connectors and find out the socio-demographic and built-environment factors that impact their usage. K-means clustering is implemented to visualize the spatial distribution of DBS and taxis around metro stations, and the spatial lag model incorporating spatial autocorrelations of variables is developed. The results show that people prefer to use DBS as a substitutable mode for bus services to serve first-mile interchange in the morning. Also, less economically developed areas with a high density of branches and fewer signalized intersections are more favored by DBS users, whereas people in the central areas with high housing price and developed arterial road network tend to take a taxi, especially during evening peak period. The study can offer the policy guidance to improve DBS services, and several recommendations are suggested to ensure the sustainable development of DBS.

Highlights

The metro transit system is fast, comfortable, reliable, and has good prospects for the development in many cities by providing a high-capacity, medium-to-long distance travel service [1], and the success of urban metro transit depends on effective multimodal solutions that bridge first-and-last-mile gaps in the transportation network [2]
Based on one-week trip data of dockless bike sharing (DBS) and taxis during a concurrent period in Beijing, the paper aims to compare the temporal-spatial distribution of DBS and taxis around metro stations and find out socio-demographic and built-environment factors impacting their ridership
To the best of our knowledge, it is the first time that the study compares the usage of DBS and taxis as transfer modes for metros, and implements spatial lag model (SLM) to find out the similarities and differences of effects of built environment factors on their selection

Summary

Introduction

The metro transit system is fast, comfortable, reliable, and has good prospects for the development in many cities by providing a high-capacity, medium-to-long distance travel service [1], and the success of urban metro transit depends on effective multimodal solutions that bridge first-and-last-mile gaps in the transportation network [2]. Walking and riding a bus are the most common modes for metro transfer [3,4,5]. In the peripheral areas of a city where bus service is less robust and the walking distance to the metro station is too long, bicycles and taxis account for higher proportions as the transfer modes [6]. Many cities have developed a station-based bike sharing system (SBBS), which provides people with a cheap, healthy, convenient, and sustainable transportation mode. The SBBS implementation is relatively unsatisfactory in some cities, and the main barriers are poor accessibility to docking stations and lengthy registration process [9,10,11,12]

Results

Discussion

Conclusion