The Death And Life Of Bike-Sharing Schemes In Spain: 2003-2018

Bike-sharing schemes (BSS) have now been implemented in many cities worldwide. Research has so far focused mainly on operating BSS, while closed BSS and comprehensive national overviews have attracted much less attention. This exploratory study is novel in that it compiles data from all of the station-based BSS ever implemented in Spain, allowing an in-depth evaluation of the evolution of the number of operating and closed BSS over time. It tracks the total number of bicycles and stations in operation at a national level and assesses specific features of the BSS, including both identification of common patterns in closed BSS and the level of use of operating BSS. Results show that 62% of BSS in Spain had closed by 2018. Closed BSS had fewer stations and were found in more economically deprived regions, and in cities with smaller populations. In terms of level of use, 38% of operating BSS report less than one trip per bicycle per day. All Spanish BSS larger than 30 stations had a 100% survival rate. Regression analysis was undertaken to assess the status of BSS (operating or closed) and the level of use. Both city population and age of the BSS were significant predictors of BSS survival and only the number of bicycles of a BSS had enough explanatory power for the level of use. This study describes the evolution of BSS in Spain and explores some of the features that might influence their survival.