CYCLECITIES CP04 D421 BSS Survey Methodology

INTERREG IVC CYCLECITIES (1307R4)
4.2.1 Methodology to collect data on existing bike

sharing systems in European cities
Project Component: 4.2.1

Document version: 4th Version
Date: September 2013
Authors: Thanos Vlastos, Anestis Filopoulos, Efthimios Bakogiannis, Avgi Vassi/
SUSTAINABLE MOBILITY UNIT, NATIONAL TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF ATHENS
Project acronym: CYCLECITIES
Project name: European cities for integrating cycling within sustainable mobility management schemes
Project code: 1307R4
Document Information
Document Identification Name: CYCLECITIES_CP04_D421_BSS_survey_methodology_2013-09-05
Document title: 4.2.1 Methodology to collect data on existing bike sharing systems in European cities.
Type: Guide
Date of Delivery: 05-09-2013
Component: CP4
Component Leader: NTUA
Dissemination level: PUBLIC
Document Status
No. Action Partner Date

1 Submitted National Technical University of Athens 16-04-2013
2 Re-submitted National Technical University of Athens 05-06-2013

5 Approved and MUNICIPALITY OF PIRAEUS 16-09-2013
released
Document History
Versions Date Changes Type of change Delivered by
Version 1.0 16-04-2013 Initial document N/A National Technical

University of Athens
Version 2.0 05-06-2013 Updated version BSS definition, fact National Technical
sheet, questionnaire University of Athens
Version 3.0 26-06-2013 Updated version Questionnaire, National Technical
communication emails University of Athens
Version 4.0 05-09-2013 Updated version Logos, questionnaire National Technical
University of Athens
Disclaimer
The information in this document is subject to change without notice.
All rights reserved

The document is proprietary of the CYCLECITIES Consortium. No copying or distributing, in any form or by any
means, is allowed without the prior written agreement of the owner of the property rights. This document reflects
only the authors view. The INTERREG Programme is not liable for any use that may be made of the information
contained herein.
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Table of Contents
i. Summary ......................................................................................................................................... 4
i. Abbreviations .................................................................................................................................. 5
1. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................... 6
1.1. Scope and context................................................................................................................... 6
1.2. Key challenges and concepts .................................................................................................. 7
2. METHODOLOGY OVERVIEW.......................................................................................................... 10
2.1. Survey questions and objectives........................................................................................... 10
2.2. Methodological approach ..................................................................................................... 11
2.3. Stages, milestones and metrics ............................................................................................ 12
2.3.1. Stage A: Preparation ..................................................................................................... 12
2.3.2. Stage B: Survey .............................................................................................................. 12
2.3.3. Phase C: Analysis of survey data and results ................................................................ 13
2.3.4. Survey targets and metrics ........................................................................................... 13
2.3.5. Survey respondents ...................................................................................................... 15
2.3.6. Data collection tools ..................................................................................................... 16
2.3.7. Survey time planning .................................................................................................... 29
3. Indicative outline of the report on fact and figures of bike sharing systems ............................... 30
3.1. Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 30
3.2. Data gathered ....................................................................................................................... 30
3.3. Survey key findings ............................................................................................................... 30
3.4. Survey results ........................................................................................................................ 30
3.5. Conclusions ........................................................................................................................... 30
3.6. Annex .................................................................................................................................... 31
4. REFERENCES .................................................................................................................................. 32
5. ANNEX ........................................................................................................................................... 33
5.1. List of bike sharing system cases in the EPOMM database .................................................. 33
5.2. Survey template welcome text and communication emails ................................................ 37
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i. Summary
This document provides a methodology guide to be used to collect data and case study
evidence through a survey of existing bike sharing systems in European cities. Facts and
figures on 50-70 bike sharing systems of small, medium and large sized European cities are
going to be collected and 20-30 cases are going to be surveyed and further explored in
terms of impact and effectiveness in the context of the Interreg IVC Cyclecities project
aiming to promote and increase cycling in urban mobility management schemes.
Data on the key facts and figures of European bike sharing systems as well as evidence on
their effectiveness and impact on urban mobility management is going to be collected
through a two-stage process. This process will involve a review of recent datasets and
evidence to be followed by a questionnaire-based survey focusing on the views of key
decision makers, officers and experts directly involved in the planning, deploying and
operation of European bike sharing schemes and systems. The aim is twofold: to collect up-
to data facts and figures reflecting the current state in European bike sharing schemes and
to gather valuable evidence, coming from those directly involved, on the impact,
assessment and effectiveness of bike sharing systems towards best integrating them in
sustainable urban mobility management schemes. Data is going to be collected through the
collaboration networks of the Cyclecities project partners focusing on the consortium
countries.
The Cyclecities bike sharing system survey will use previous surveys and projects like the
OBIS project as a starting point for including additional, up-to-date evidence and providing
more in-depth insights on the effectiveness, value-for-money and overall impact of current
bike sharing schemes and systems in European cities as voiced by those directly involved.
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i. Abbreviations
BSS Bike sharing system(s) / bike

sharing scheme(s)
EPOMM European Platform on Mobility
Management
MM Mobility Management
NTUA National Technical University of
Athens
SMU Sustainable Mobility Unit
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1. INTRODUCTION
1.1. Scope and context

This document is an output of the INTERREG IVC Cyclecities project and provides a
methodology guide to be used as a common approach basis by the project consortium in
order to survey current bike sharing systems in European cities.
CYCLECITIES aims to build and share knowledge and facilitate good practice transfer and
experience exchange among European cities on the integration of cycling into urban
mobility management schemes. It specifically aims to:
exchange experiences and make transferable good practices on mobility

management and cycling available to European stakeholders.
establish consensus on policies towards sustainable European mobility management
schemes.
establish a European, multilingual, freely-accessible knowledge and experience base.
disseminate field experiences and project results as a means to enhance awareness
on the integration of cycling in urban mobility management schemes.
The bike sharing system survey is a foreseen output of the CycleCities project as part of
activity 4.2.1: Collection of facts and data on existing cities' bike-sharing systems. Data
collection and analysis will lead to and support the development of:
1. a report on cities' bike-sharing systems facts & figures (systems installed, suppliers,
user satisfaction, assessment feedback, etc.)
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2. a report on the efficiency of bike-sharing systems integrated in mobility management
schemes
3. recommendations for using bike-sharing systems in European cities
1.2. Key challenges and concepts

Cyclecities addresses some critical challenges and opportunities for European cities that
relate to a number of factors:
Traffic congestion: 30% of car trips in Europe are under 3km and 50% are under 5km
a 15 minute bike ride (EEA Report No 5/2009). Reducing car use and increasing
cycling will unclog roads and reduce congestion and associated delays, lost working
hours and wasted fuel.
Cost reduction: Motorised transport imposes high costs on individuals and society,
both directly (road construction and maintenance) and indirectly (casualties, obesity,
pollution, congestion, etc.). The European Commission (COM 2009/279) 1 estimates
the external costs of road transport (mostly individual motorised transport) at 2.6 %
of GDP. Other studies suggest as much as 4% and 8%. Shift from car to cycling
provides an opportunity for huge cost savings.
Lower carbon footprint: Some 40% of Europe's CO2 emissions from road transport
and 70% of other pollutants are due to urban traffic. As recognised in EU
Communication 2009/279, urban transport accounts for 40% of CO2 emissions, and
70% of other air pollution, in particular PM10 and NOx emissions, from transport.
Tripling the modal share of cycling would save 5% of transport CO2 emissions by
2020. This would make a significant contribution to mitigating climate change and
decreasing dependency on fossil fuels.
1
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=COM:2009:0279:FIN:EN:PDF
Page 7 of 40
Health benefits: Increasing the modal share of cycling enhances physical and mental
health. Accidents involving cars are associated with cycling and walking, too.
Nevertheless, on balance, the benefits to life expectancy of choosing to cycle are 20
times the injury risks incurred by that choice (WHO, 2000). Higher proportions of
commuter cyclists are correlated with lower risks of casualties. Car drivers are used
to the presence of cyclists and are more likely to be cyclists themselves.
Land use: increased uptake of cycling leads to reduced land consumption: 10 bikes
can be parked in the space required for one car. One lane of typical road can
accommodate 2,000 cars per hour or 14,000 bikes. Fostering of investment and
neighborhood revitalisation: Cycle-friendly cities attract individuals & businesses
investment, encourage neighborhood revitalisation and can improve a citys quality
of life and environment.
Bicycle sharing systems are critical components of current policies and practices to address
these challenges as part of wider urban mobility management strategies. The key objective
of these systems is to provide free or low cost access to bicycles for short distance trips in
urban areas as an alternative option to private car use therefore reducing air pollution,
noise levels and traffic congestion. Bike sharing is also linked to motorised public transport
either as an alternative transport mode or as a short distance (last mile) solution
connecting commuters to public transport hubs.
In this context, a bicycle sharing system, bike sharing system or bike sharing scheme, can
be defined as any fully automated, self-service network of bicycles that is available to
individuals on a short term basis as a means of short distance transportation in urban areas.
Bike sharing systems can be categorized based on financing (public, private, or public-
private partnership), ownership, operator and operational model, scale and range.
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Bike sharing schemes or systems lie at the core of urban mobility management strategies.
Mobility management is a concept used to promote sustainable transport that manages the
demand for car use and favours softer transportation modes such as cycling and walking.
As defined in EPOMM mobility management user manual: 2
*mobility management is primarily a demand orientated approach to passenger and freight

transport that involves new partnerships and a set of tools to support and encourage change
of attitude and behaviour towards sustainable modes of transport. These tools are usually
based
on information, communication, organisation, co-ordination and require promotion.
*EPOMM mobility management user manual
2
European Platform on Mobility Management: http://www.epomm.eu/downloads/Usermanual.pdf
Page 9 of 40
2. METHODOLOGY OVERVIEW
2.1. Survey questions and objectives

The purpose of this methodology report is to guide the data collection process and help
effectively plan and conduct the Cyclecities project survey on European bike sharing systems
(BSS). The bike sharing systems survey aims to: a) present up-to-date facts and figures on
bike sharing systems currently in use in European cities b) provide evidence on the
effectiveness, impact and assessment of certain bike sharing system cases c) allow for
valuable insights on the decisive, success factors for sustainable bike sharing systems based
on city experiences and lessons learned. The bike sharing system survey aims to address the
following questions:
Which are the most effective BSSs currently in use in European cities?
What are the main facts, figures and features of these BSSs?
To what extent, BSSs currently in use have recently proven successful in encouraging
short distance cycling (walking, cycling) at the expense of private cars?
How do those involved in deploying and operating BSSs view their impact and
effectiveness?
What are the critical factors defining high use rates for BSSs?
What are the key lessons learned in planning, deploying and operating a BSS within
an urban setting?
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2.2. Methodological approach
The methodological approach in surveying bike sharing systems in relation to mobility
management is defined based on:
a) the foreseen ouputs, targets and activities of the Cyclecities project

b) previous related surveys and projects (e.g. OBIS)
c) available data sources (e.g. databases, online resources)
d) knowledge gaps and BSS aspects that need to be further explored
Data resources are going to be identified and will be collected through desk research,
review of previous surveys and evidence and a purpose built survey questionnaire focusing
on the experiences of key experts and actors. Desk research will focus on reviewing
previous projects, related surveys and data resources that are available online in order to
produce an initial knowledge base on a significant number of bike sharing system cases
representing different city profiles and sizes in Europe. Based on this knowledge base,
representative cases will be selected to be further explored through a survey questionnaire.
The survey questionnaire will be designed in order to capture the experience-based views
and opinions of key individuals that are actively involved in planning, deploying and
operating bike sharing systems in European cities. While the 1st stage of research aims to
establish an overview of the current situation and the facts and figures of European BSSs,
the questionnaire-based survey will rather focus on specific aspects of bike sharing schemes
relating to their effectiveness, associated costs and value-for-money and their overall
impact. Potential respondents will be identified based on their knowledge and experience
profile in transport planning and urban mobility management with a priority given to
individuals that have been directly involved in setting up, deploying or operating bike
sharing systems in cities or urban areas. Respondents will be also identified through the
local and regional administration networks of the Cyclecities project consortium.
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2.3. Stages, milestones and metrics
Data collection and analysis on bike sharing systems will be carried out in three stages: a)
preparation b) surveying c) analysis and presentation of results.
2.3.1. Stage A: Preparation
The preparation stage will include the following steps:

Preliminary desk research, literature review and brief state of the art analysis on
European urban bike sharing systems.
Review of public datasets (e.g. OBIS project, EPOMM database) currently available
on bike sharing systems in Europe (types of systems installed, numbers of bicycles
and registered users, costs and financing).
Identification of BSS cases to be surveyed and comparatively analysed.
Definition and fine-tuning of survey objectives, target and respondents based on the
cases to be surveyed.
Milestone: Development of a survey questionnaire to gather views, opinions and
experiences on effectiveness and user satisfaction in relation to bike sharing systems
(based on cases identified through review of available data).
Pilot testing and fine-tuning of the questionnaire and accompanying survey materials
(e.g. guidelines, invitation texts).
2.3.2. Stage B: Survey
Invitation sent to respondents / survey launch

Survey execution and administration
Milestone: Survey completion
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Data collection and consolidation
2.3.3. Phase C: Analysis of survey data and results
Comparative analysis of survey data

Milestone: drafting of report on city bike-sharing systems facts & figures (systems
installed, suppliers, user satisfaction, assessment feedback, etc).
2.3.4. Survey targets and metrics
The Cyclecities bike sharing system survey targets and metrics are defined based on:
the objectives for data collection on European bike sharing systems as defined by
activity 4.2.1 of the Cyclecities project
data produced by recent projects and surveys focusing on bike sharing systems in
Europe
the work plan and time constraints of the Cyclecities project
the methodology approach and survey tools suggested
Survey targets are set based on a two-level approach. On the 1st level 50-70 BSS cases are
going to be collected combining desk research and review of public datasets and data
resources.3 On the 2nd level 20-30 cases are going to be further surveyed using a custom
developed questionnaire as shown in table 1.
Table 1. Data collection tools and levels

Data collection level Data sources/tools Number of cases Number of cases
target (low) target (high)
1st Public online datasets 50 70
2nd Survey questionnaire 20 30
3
Data review will focus on most recent cases on within the last 3-5 years.
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More specifically, 1st level data collection will be based on a review of the following public
datasets:
the OBIS project dataset4

the EPOMM online data base5
the bike sharing world map6
OBIS has produced data on the facts and figures of 51 BSS cases further broken down into
categories as shown in the following table.
Table 2. Overview of the OBIS project dataset
Country City size (population)

>500000 >100000 <100000 Total number of
cases per country
IT 2 5 4 11
ES 3 3 1 7
CZ 1 1
FR 2 5 1 8
BE 2 2
DE 5 2 7
AT 1 1 2 4
PL 1 1
SE 3 1 4
UK 2 3 1 6
Total number of 22 20 9 51
cases (by city
size)
The EPOMM database hosts 336 cases referring to cycling in general (filter=cycling) while 17
cases specifically refer to bike sharing systems.7
4
Optimising bike sharing in European cities. www.obisproject.com
5
http://www.epomm.eu
6
https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=214135271590990954041.00043d80f9456b3416ced&msa=0
7
A list of these 17 cases is provided in the Annex.
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Finally, the bike sharing world map includes more than 120 BSS cases in the 7 countries
represented in the Cyclecities consortium (DE, GR, IT, UK, PL, PT, SI).
2.3.5. Survey respondents
The bike sharing system survey will focus on identifying and inviting key individuals and field
experts who are actively involved or hold full knowledge of specific bike sharing systems and
projects based on the results of data reviewed and the evidence collected in Stage A
(preparation). Potential respondent groups to be invited in participating in the survey
include:
elected representatives and decision makers in charge of bike sharing schemes

and systems
city transport officers
city tourism officers
city representatives, campaign managers, PR/communication managers
bike sharing system operator representatives
bike sharing system installation/deployment company representatives
city transport advisors and field experts
Target numbers of survey respondents are defined based on a minimum of one respondent
for each BSS case and on a 20% to 30% response rate as shown below:
Table 3. BSS survey respondent metrics
Number of survey cases Number of survey Number of respondents

invitees
Target (20% Target (30%
response rate) reponse rate)
Low 20 100 20 30
target
High 30 150 30 45
target
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2.3.6. Data collection tools
Data collection will use two main documentation tools:
a bike sharing system fact sheet

a survey questionnaire on individual views and opinions on BSS impact and
effectiveness
The bike sharing system fact sheet will aim to document the main facts and figures of the
50-70 BSS cases to be initially identified through data review. The BSS fact sheet is based on
the fields and categories applied in the OBIS project dataset in order to ensure a certain
level of consistency and allow for analysis of up-to-date data and additional evidence on
comparable factors and figures. The following structure for the BSS fact sheet is suggested.
Table 4. Template structure for the BSS fact sheet
Project European cities for integrating cycling within sustainable

mobility management schemes (CycleCities)
Component 4 Strategies and tools for re-orienting mobility management
policies
Task 4.2.1 Survey on cities bike-sharing systems
BSS PROFILE
Title
City
Short profile / description
Start date
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Status
Contact person (s)
URL
LOCATION INFO
City size (population)

Slopes/elevation (low/medium/high)
OPERATIONAL MODEL
OPERATOR/OWNERSHIP
BSS operator
BSS owner
BSS bike and equipment
provider
BSS software/IT support
provider
EQUIPMENT / INFRASTRUCTURE
Bike types
Number of bikes (total)
Number of stations
OPERATION / COST FOR USER
Hiring method Local residents: Tourists:
Payment method Local residents: Tourists:
Registration cost
Free use time
Fare unit
Cost < 30 min.
Cost 30 - 60 min.
Cost 60 - 90 min.
Cost 90 - 120 min.
Cost >120 min
Time constraints/use
limitations
FINANCIAL FACTS & FIGURES
FINANCING
Source(s) of financing
INVESTMENT COST
Est. investment (total)
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Number of employees
REVENUE
BSS USERS
Number of yearly rents

Average users on a daily basis
Average daily rents
HEALTH & SAFETY
Obligatory safety measures

(yes/no)
TRANSPORT INTEGRATION
CITY MODAL SPLIT

Prior to BSS Within 3 years
of BSS
operation
Motorised private transport
Public transport
Cycling
Walking
CYCLING INFRASTRUCTURE
Cycling routes/network length
(km)
PUBLIC TRANSPORT INTEGRATION
Integrated ticket for PT (yes/no)
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A survey questionnaire will be used for capturing the views and opinions of key individuals
involved in specific bike sharing schemes, systems and projects. The questionnaire will be
structured in a clear and simple manner in order to encourage participation and achieve
higher response rates. To ensure consistency and facilitate data analysis the BSS survey
questionnaire will be developed, communicated and completed in English. Where feasible,
and in cases where communication can only be established in local language(s), project
partners may assume the role of intermediaries in promoting translated questionnaire
versions and gathering translated responses.
The survey questionnaire, to be available online

(https://adobeformscentral.com/?f=mPLDIaJnYTRiEHKLEsUnyg), should include a simple
introductory text including a) the purpose, the aims and the background of the Cyclecities
project and the collection of evidence on BSS b) a disclaimer on copyrights, information
disclosure and use of collected data providing an option of stating consent to use that
information in a certain way c) the incentives for providing information as a contribution to
shared knowledge in the field.
The survey questionnaire will be used in combination with the BSS facts and figures sheet
and therefore it should focus on aspects relating to the overall impact and assessment of
the bike sharing systems to be surveyed. The questionnaire should not be lengthy (not
exceeding a total of 30 questions) in order not to discourage potential respondents. A
combination of both closed and open-ended question types is suggested in order to capture
comparable data in a consistent way while also enabling respondents to voice their own
views, opinions and concerns. The BSS survey questionnaire should be pilot tested in Stage
A of data collection and be fine-tuned based on any adjustments required.
The BSS survey questionnaire is structured in five sections as described below.
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Section A: BIKE SHARING SYSTEM IDENTITY
Section A will include the BSS information such as title, city and country of operation,
as well as the year of implementation.
Section B: USER PATTERNS INFORMATION

Section B will focus on BSS use types, user demographics, user satisfaction and
citizens involvement in planning and decision making aiming to provide insights on
BSS assessment from the view of users and citizens.
Section C: COSTS & ECOMONIC RESULTS

Section C will address the economic results and aspects of the surveyed BSS aiming
to capture stakeholder perspectives on the actual costs, economic results and
financial sustainability of bike sharing schemes and systems applied in European
cities.
Section D: IMPACT AND PROSPECTS

Section D will aim to provide insights on the major benefits and challenges of
surveyed bike sharing systems in terms of their impact and repercussions as viewed
by key individuals and stakeholders. It also aims to identify key lessons learned in
planning, deploying and operating BSSs in urban areas that could be useful to
European city administrations.
Section E: PERSONAL INFORMATION

Section E will include the respondent info such as position, affiliation in organization
and contact details. It will also define the respondents level of involvement in the
BSS case examined.
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The following survey questionnaire template is suggested to facilitate data collection and
survey execution.
Table 5. BSS survey questionnaire template
SECTION A: BIKE SHARING SYSTEM IDENTITY
1. Bike sharing system title (if applicable)
"[Type your reply here]"
2. City / municipality
3. Country
4. Year(s) of implementation:
Year of official decision: [Drop down list of years]

Year of actual implementation: [Drop down list of years]
SECTION B: USER PATTERNS INFORMATION
5. Based on your knowledge, who would you describe as the primary user group of the bike sharing
system?
o Commuters to work / school
o Tourists
o People on leisure time
o Dont know / Do not wish to answer
o Other, please specify: "[Type your reply here]"
6. Based on your experience, the bike sharing system is mainly used for:
(Please select only up to two)
Commuting to work/school
Leisure / sports
Shopping
Tourism / sightseeing
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Dont know / Do not wish to answer
Other, please specify: "[Type your reply here]"
7. What is the proportion of the municipality area covered by the bike sharing system?
o <10%
o 10-30%
o 3150%
o >50%
o Spans across several municipalities
8. Based on your knowledge, what is the average duration of each trip by users?
o 0-30 min
o 30-60 min
o 60-120 min
o 120-240 min
9. How is the bike sharing system user satisfaction measured?

(Please select all that apply)
Through system user metrics
Through regular polls or user surveys
Through local community councils / elected representatives feedback
There is no established way of getting feedback on bike sharing system user satisfaction
10. How do you assess the public consultation as regards the implementation of this bike sharing
system?
(Please rate from 1 to 5)
1: 2: 3: 4: 5:
Inexistent Somewhat Somewhat Adequate Dont
insufficient sufficient know / Do
not wish
to answer
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Through local community councils /
elected representatives feedback
Through public meetings
Through polls and voting
Through public information centers
Through questionnaires / online
consultation
Other(Please specify and score)
11. How would you describe the prevailing citizens opinions towards the bike sharing system?
o Favorable
o Rather favorable
o Indifferent
o Rather negative
o Negative
SECTION C: COSTS & ECONOMIC RESULTS
12. What is your estimation regarding repair / replacement costs due to damages, vandalism and
theft compared to the overall operating cost?
o <10% of overall operating cost
o 10%-25% of overall operating cost
o 26%-50% of overall operating cost
o >50% of overall operating cost
13. What are the average economic results of the bike sharing system in the last 3 years of
operation?
o Revenues exceed expenses
o Revenues are equal to expenses
o Revenues are lower than expenses
o Revenues are much lower than expenses
o There is no data available
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14. Please indicate the main sources of revenue of the bike sharing system: (Please rate from 1 to 5)
1: 2: 3: 4: 5:
<10% of 10% - 40% 41% - 89% >90% of Dont
total of total of total total know / No
revenues revenues revenues revenues answer
Revenue from user fare
Revenue from advertisement

Revenue from contract with public
authority
Revenue from grants/donations
Other(Please specify and score)
15. In case of negative results, deficits are covered by:

o The city / town administration
o The private operator
o Private companies (other than the operator e.g. sponsorships)
o Mixed public/private contributions
16. How would you describe the overall value for money of the bike sharing system?
o Low
o Rather low
o Considerable
o Rather high
o High
SECTION D: IMPACT & PROSPECTS
17. What are the major benefits of the bike sharing system?
1: 2: Slightly 3: Quite 4: Very 5: Do not

Insignificant important important important know / No
answer
Reducing traffic congestion
Increasing bike use / cycling
uptake
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Improving citizens health
Reducing CO2 emissions /
improving the urban
environment
Increasing tourism
Generating revenue
Boosting growth / supporting
local economy
Other:"[Type your reply here]"
18. What are the major challenges, disadvantages or negative aspects of the bike sharing system?
1: 2: 3: 4: 5:
Insignificant Slightly Quite Very Do not know
important important important / No answer
High operating cost
High investment/start
up cost
High prices for users
Injuries and safety
issues
Insufficient technical
support and
maintenance (e.g.
repair, replacement)
Lack of political support
Lack of public
consultation
Other:
19. The deployment of the bike sharing system took place in combination with the following
actions/measures:
(Please select all that apply)
Bicycle lanes development

Off-street parking amenities
Partnership with public transport sector
Car parking space limitation measures
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Awareness raising campaigns
No other measure
20. What are in your opinion the additional measures or initiatives that can increase bike sharing
systems value for the city and improve its performance.
1: 2: 3: 4: 5:
Not Quite Quite Very Do not know
important unimportant important important / No answer
at all
Extension of cycling
networks (e.g. bike
lanes, stations)
Better fleet repair /
replacement and
maintenance service
level
Lower prices for users
Improved user
registration, monitoring
and/or IT systems
Additional funding for
bike sharing system
expansion
Awareness raising
among citizens/visitors
Initiatives to involve
local communities in
decision making
Combined actions
involving other
transport modes (e.g.
integrated public
transport fares and
networks)
Other:
Page 26 of 40
21. In your opinion, how effective has the bike sharing system been in reducing car use and easing
traffic congestion?
o Very Effective
o Rather effective
o Neither effective nor ineffective
o Rather ineffective
o Very Ineffective
22. Based on your knowledge, in the following years the bike sharing system is going to be:
o Extended
o Maintained
o Scaled down
o Discontinued
23. In your opinion, what is the single most valuable lesson learned in deploying and operating the
bike sharing system?
SECTION E: PERSONAL INFORMATION
24. Position
25. Affiliation
26. What was your involvement in this bike sharing system?

o Decision making for establishment
o Planning / design
o Daily operation, performance and maintenance
o Promotion, communication and public participation
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o Other please specify: "[Type your reply here]"
27. I would like to receive information about the results of this survey
o Yes
o No
28. Name
29. E-mail (it will only be used to send you the results of this survey):
30. Phone
Page 28 of 40
2.3.7. Survey time planning
The following 10 step time-plan and monitoring table for preparing and conducting the BSS
survey is suggested.
Table 6. BSS survey time-plan. M=Month
# Action Steps Timeline Status Comments
1 Desk research and state M1

of the art analysis
2 Review of public M1
datasets (e.g. OBIS
project, EPOMM
database)
3 Identification of BSS M1
cases to be surveyed
4 Milestone: M1
Development of survey
questionnaire
5 Definition and fine- M1

tuning of survey targets
and objectives
6 Pilot testing and fine- M1

tuning of survey
questionnaire
7 Milestone: 1st invitation M2

sent to respondents /
survey launch
8 2nd invitation/ follow-up M2

e-mail sent to potential
respondents
9 Milestone: survey M3
completion
10 Data collection and M3

consolidation
Page 29 of 40
3. Indicative outline of the report on fact and figures
of bike sharing systems
3.1. Introduction
The introductory chapter will outline the scope and context of the Cyclecities project and
shortly present the targets, objectives and methodological approach of the BSS survey and
data collection. It will also provide a chapter outline of the report.
3.2. Data gathered

This section will present the data gathered, including response rate to the questionnaire
used, number of BSS surveyed and reviewed, breakdown by country, city size, respondent
profile, year of implementation. It will also refer to the main bike sharing systems operators,
most usual hiring and payment methods, and most common sources of financing.
3.3. Survey key findings

This section will provide a short presentation of the key survey findings, facts and figures,
including the main benefits and challenges of BSS deployment, their effectiveness in
reducing car use in urban settings and the BSS expected evolution in Europe.
3.4. Survey results

This section will provide an in depth analysis of survey results based on both qualitative and
quantitative analysis of data collected through the BSS fact sheet and the BSS survey
questionnaire.
3.5. Conclusions
The conclusive chapter will include a summative discussion of the evidence gathered on bike
sharing systems currently in operation in European cities and will highlight critical facts,
figures and factors that are linked to the impact and effectiveness of bike sharing schemes
Page 30 of 40
in relation to urban mobility management. It will also include any key lessons learned in
planning, deploying and operating a BSS as captured through the survey and data collection
process.
3.6. Annex
The Annex may include lists, graphs and analysis tables, sections of indicative responses and
additional information resources.
Page 31 of 40
4. REFERENCES
[1] EPOMM. European platform on mobility management. Database of cases on cycling:

http://www.epomm.eu/
[2] EPOMM. Mobility management user manual

http://www.epomm.eu/downloads/Usermanual.pdf
[3] Optimising bike sharing in European cities OBIS project

http://www.obisproject.com
[4] Optimising Bike Sharing in European Cities. A Handbook. OBIS, June 2011.
http://www.obisproject.com/palio/html.run?_Instance=obis&_PageID=200&_LngID=21&_C
atID=7&pic=0&_CheckSum=2100674166
Page 32 of 40
5. ANNEX
5.1. List of bike sharing system cases in the EPOMM database
Table 7. List of bike sharing system cases in the EPOMM database. Source: www.epomm.eu
Title Short Description Country URL

1. Bike sharing system In order to decrease the use of Greece http://epomm.e
in the city of cars and increase the use of u/index.php?id=
Nafplion, Greece sustainable transport modes, a 2771&lang1=en
bike sharing system was &study_id=3671
implemented in the city of
Nafplion in 2010. The key
partners involved were the local
authorities and the provider of
the bike sharing system.
Currently, one station is located
in the Trion Navarxon square in
front of the Municipality.
2. A Bike Sharing The Aristotle University of Greece http://epomm.e
Scheme at the Thessaloniki is the largest u/index.php?id=
Aristotle University of university in Greece. The 2771&lang1=en
Thessaloniki, Greece campus is located in the city &study_id=3368
centre and its presence
significantly contributes to road
congestion and delays. In order
to relieve these impacts, a bike
sharing scheme has been
introduced on campus.
3. SYSTEM BICY, a Velenje has implemented its Slovenia http://epomm.e
successful example of new modular bike sharing u/index.php?id=
Bike Sharing in a system - System BICY. Residents 2771&lang1=en
small city, Velenje, are able to pick up one of 25 &study_id=3738
Slovenia bicycles from 40 terminals at 5
city stations. System BICY was
launched on the 18th of
September 2012 and covers an
area of approx. 3 square
kilometres in a network where
the terminals are no more than
600 metres apart. The system
encourages Velenje's 34,000
inhabitants to use a bicycle
Page 33 of 40
instead of a car for short trips.
4. Pedelec-City Stuttgart Stuttgart is making its way from German http://epomm.e

(Germany) a car-city to a pedelec-city. The y u/index.php?id=
mayor of Stuttgart announced a 2771&lang1=en
concrete aim: 20 percent of the &study_id=1944
whole traffic should become
bicycle traffic. What they need?
Bicycles with an additional
electric actuator and a plan!
5. Rent a Bike with the The German railway company German http://epomm.e
Mobile Phone in six (Deutsche Bahn AG) made y u/index.php?id=
Cities in Germany unlimited mobility for their 2771&lang1=en
customers their business. They &study_id=1507
created a system where people
can rent a bike only by dialing a
number written on the wanted
vehicle. Between 2002 and 2007
"Call a bike" was carried out in
six cities throughout Germany.
6. Call a Bike: Public "Call a Bike", an innovative bike German http://epomm.e
Bicycles in Germany hiring service by German y u/index.php?id=
Railways offers a cost-effective, 2771&lang1=en
comfortable, easy and &study_id=198
convenient alternative to the car
in inner city areas. "Call a Bike"
shows how the combined use of
bicycles and public transport in
cities can be promoted
successfully.
7. Hotel bike system in Hotels in Riccione are facing Italy http://epomm.e
Riccione, Italy heavy competition from other u/index.php?id=
hotels along the Northern 2771&lang1=en
Adriatic Coast. In an attempt to &study_id=3529
attract more guests and to
expand the tourist season to
spring and autumn, many hotels
now offer bicycles to their
guests.
8. Free of charge bicycle In the muncipality of Trento, a Italy http://epomm.e
rental service in free of charge public bicycle u/index.php?id=
Trento, Italy service has been implemented. 2771&lang1=en
The bicycles are supplied by &study_id=1478
Trentino mobilit and are
Page 34 of 40
available in the main intermodal
nodes.
9. Bike and Train The Province of Bolzano started Italy http://epomm.e

interchange at Val in May 2005 with a specific plan u/index.php?id=
Venosta to promote the use of 2771&lang1=en
Bike+Train in Val Venosta. In the &study_id=788
frame of the innovative train
system implemented in that
valley, it is the intent of the
Administration to strengthen
the potential of sustainable
means of transport for leisure
purposes. The Bike+Train service
will be complementary to the
bicycle route network offering
more flexibility, better
geographical diffusion and thus
more competitiveness with cars
tourism mobility.
10. Promotion of safe With this project the city of Italy http://epomm.e
and increased bicycle Venice promotes the use of the u/index.php?id=
use in Venice (Italy) bicycle for residents, commuters 2771&lang1=en
and students through the &study_id=1110
implementation of an integrated
package of projects and
infrastructure.
11. Wroclaws Bicycle The aim of this initiative is to Poland http://epomm.e
Sharing Scheme, provide citizens with another u/index.php?id=
Poland sustainable means of transport 2771&lang1=en
in the center of Wroclaw. The &study_id=3217
project was launched in June
2011 providing 156 rental bikes
across 17 stations.
12. A new focus on The enormous increase of traffic Poland http://epomm.e
walking and cycling in in Warsaw forced the city to u/index.php?id=
Warsaw, Poland react and take action, including 2771&lang1=en
the implementation of new &study_id=3095
facilities for cyclists and
pedestrians.
13. Public bicycle rental In 2009, a city owned bicycle Poland http://epomm.e
system in Krakow renting system was established u/index.php?id=
(Poland) in the city center of Krakow. The 2771&lang1=en
system has been built based on &study_id=2147
the public transport system, to
integrate those two modes of
transport and promote
intermodality. The BikeOne bike
Page 35 of 40
rental system has been
developed and installed within
2005-2009 (under CiViTAS
CARAVEL project).
14. Public bicycles at the During tramway track extension, Poland http://epomm.e
University campus in public bicycles should be u/index.php?id=
Poznan (Poland) provided as a substitute in 2771&lang1=en
transport services. Due to their &study_id=1562
costs, in the end a bike path was
developed to cater to citizens
with some bikes available for
free rental. Practice shows that
bicycles are not any alternative
for tramway but an interesting
social experiment.
15. The UK Bike 2 Work The UK Bike 2 Work initiative is a UK http://epomm.e
scheme (UK-wide) tax-efficient, salary-sacrificed, u/index.php?id=
employee benefit that provides 2771&lang1=en
a way of encouraging more &study_id=3447
employees to take up cycling for
their commuting journeys.
16. The BikeBoost The BikeBoost scheme is an UK http://epomm.e
scheme, Sheffield, UK innovative cycle loan scheme u/index.php?id=
that aims to encourage 2771&lang1=en
commuters to cycle rather than &study_id=3446
drive to work. Over 700 people
have participated in the scheme
in the 2 years since the scheme
was launched and 70% of
participants now cycle rather
than drive to work.
17. Kyle Cycling Project, A range of cycling initiatives UK http://epomm.e
South Ayrshire, UK have recently been introduced u/index.php?id=
to encourage South Ayrshire 2771&lang1=en
schoolchildren to cycle to &study_id=3410
school. The 'Wheelie Doing Well'
Project at the Kyle Academy
School is an example of these
initiatives that have been
implemented.
Page 36 of 40
5.2. Survey template welcome text and communication emails
CycleCities Survey: Welcome message
What is the purpose of this survey?

The partners of CYCLECITIES project are looking to identify the current situation of cities bike-
sharing systems in Europe.
Who should participate?

Elected representatives and decision makers in charge of bike sharing schemes and systems, city
transport officers, city tourism officers, city representatives, campaign managers, PR/communication
managers, bike sharing system operator representatives, bike sharing system
installation/deployment company representatives, city transport advisors and field experts.
Why participate?
Your views and experiences on the implementation of a specific bike sharing system will offer
meaningful insights and help better understand the key factors relating to the deployment and
operation of bike-sharing systems and their impact on urban mobility management in European
cities.
How long does it take?

The estimated total time for the filling in is about 10-15mins.
Thank you very much in advance for your participation and valuable contribution!
The CycleCities project team
http://www.cyclecities.eu
Page 37 of 40
CycleCities Survey: invitation e-mail
Dear Sir/Madam / Mr / Ms {FIRSTNAME} {LASTNAME},
The Sustainable Mobility Unit of the National Technical University of Athens and the Cyclecities
project consortium would like to invite you to participate in a survey on current bike-sharing systems
in European cities.
Your very valuable contribution will help in better understanding key factors regarding the successful
planning, deployment and operation of bike-sharing systems in European cities. The survey will take
approximately 10-15 minutes and will ask questions relating to the features, use level, impact and
effectiveness of a specific bike sharing scheme or system in your city.
Your response and information will remain strictly confidential and will only be utilised for the
purposes of this survey.
If you wish to receive the survey results and the analysis report, please tick the box at the end of the
questionnaire. We would really appreciate if you could also forward this questionnaire to other
stakeholders involved in the deployment/operation of the bike sharing system in your city.
To take part in the survey please click here: {SURVEYURL}
If you do not wish to participate in this survey and don't want to receive any more invitations please
click the following link: {OPTOUTURL}
In case of any difficulties or enquiries please contact the survey administrator at: {email address}
We warmly thank you for contributing to this survey.
Professor Thanos Vlastos

National Technical University of Athens, partner of the CycleCities consortium
vlastos@mail.ntua.gr
Page 38 of 40
/Signature
Contact details
----------------------------------------------------------------------
The CycleCities Project aims to carry out transfer of experiences and exchange of good practices
among European cities, as well as to build up a knowledge capital regarding the integration of cycling
into urban mobility management schemes. The project comes under the INTERREG IVC Programme
as part of the European Territorial Cooperation Objective of the Structural Fund policies for the
period 2007-2013 and it is financed through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
CycleCities Survey: follow-up email
Dear Sir/Madame/ Mr / Ms {FIRSTNAME} {LASTNAME},
We would like to remind you that you have been requested to participate in as survey regarding the
successful deployment and operation of bike sharing systems in the context of the European Project
CYCLECITIES.
We noticed that we did not receive yet any response from your side and we took the liberty to
remind you that your knowledge and contribution are very important to the achievement of the
goals of the CYCLECITIES project.
Your personal data will be treated as confidential.
For your convenience, we have attached again the questionnaire form to be filled in.
Thank you in advance for your contribution.

/Signature,
Contact details
Page 39 of 40
CycleCities Survey: thank you email
Dear Sir/Madame/ Mr / Ms {FIRSTNAME} {LASTNAME},
We would like to thank you for your time filling in the questionnaire for the deployment and
operation of bike sharing systems. Your contribution is much appreciated.
We would be pleased to keep you updated once the results are published.
Sincerely yours,

/Signature,
Contact details
Page 40 of 40

CYCLECITIES CP04 D421 BSS Survey Methodology

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INTERREG IVC CYCLECITIES (1307R4)

4.2.1 Methodology to collect data on existing bike

Project Component: 4.2.1

No. Action Partner Date

2 Re-submitted National Technical University of Athens 05-06-2013

Versions Date Changes Type of change Delivered by

Version 1.0 16-04-2013 Initial document N/A National Technical

All rights reserved

BSS Bike sharing system(s) / bike

1.1. Scope and context

exchange experiences and make transferable good practices on mobility

3. recommendations for using bike-sharing systems in European cities

1.2. Key challenges and concepts

As defined in EPOMM mobility management user manual: 2

*mobility management is primarily a demand orientated approach to passenger and freight

*EPOMM mobility management user manual

2.1. Survey questions and objectives

a) the foreseen ouputs, targets and activities of the Cyclecities project

2.3.1. Stage A: Preparation

The preparation stage will include the following steps:

2.3.2. Stage B: Survey

Invitation sent to respondents / survey launch

2.3.3. Phase C: Analysis of survey data and results

Comparative analysis of survey data

2.3.4. Survey targets and metrics

Table 1. Data collection tools and levels

the OBIS project dataset4

Table 2. Overview of the OBIS project dataset

Country City size (population)

2.3.5. Survey respondents

elected representatives and decision makers in charge of bike sharing schemes

Table 3. BSS survey respondent metrics

Number of survey cases Number of survey Number of respondents

Data collection will use two main documentation tools:

a bike sharing system fact sheet

Table 4. Template structure for the BSS fact sheet

Project European cities for integrating cycling within sustainable

City size (population)

FINANCIAL FACTS & FIGURES

Number of yearly rents

HEALTH & SAFETY

Obligatory safety measures

CITY MODAL SPLIT

The survey questionnaire, to be available online

The BSS survey questionnaire is structured in five sections as described below.

Section B: USER PATTERNS INFORMATION

Section C: COSTS & ECOMONIC RESULTS

Section D: IMPACT AND PROSPECTS

Section E: PERSONAL INFORMATION

Table 5. BSS survey questionnaire template

SECTION A: BIKE SHARING SYSTEM IDENTITY

1. Bike sharing system title (if applicable)

"[Type your reply here]"

"[Type your reply here]"

"[Type your reply here]"

Year of official decision: [Drop down list of years]

SECTION B: USER PATTERNS INFORMATION

9. How is the bike sharing system user satisfaction measured?

SECTION C: COSTS & ECONOMIC RESULTS

Revenue from advertisement

15. In case of negative results, deficits are covered by:

SECTION D: IMPACT & PROSPECTS

1: 2: Slightly 3: Quite 4: Very 5: Do not

Bicycle lanes development