How do technology-enabled bike-sharing services improve urban air pollution? Empirical evidence from China

Abstract

Technology-enabled bike-sharing services are increasingly being regarded as effective means of reducing air pollution. However, their actual impact on urban air pollution, especially the factors that might amplify these environmental benefits, is still not well understood. Taking advantage of Ofo and Mobike's staggered entry into 98 major Chinese cities as a quasi-natural experiment, this study empirically examines the impact of technology-enabled dockless bike-sharing services on air pollution and its heterogeneity using a difference-in-differences approach. The results show that there is significant heterogeneity in the impact of the entry of bike-sharing services on urban air pollution, while the overall effect is not significant. Specifically, the reduction effect of dockless bike-sharing service entry on air pollution is greater in cities with larger urban populations, longer average commute times, and higher public transit use, and the increase in traffic congestion further amplifies such effects. This study serves as the first empirical analysis of the impact of bike-sharing services on air pollution, providing important and valuable references for policymakers to better utilize these services to improve air quality and develop sustainable urban transport systems.