Exploring the impact of the COVID 19 pandemic on public bicycle sharing systems: the cases of Madrid (BiciMAD) and Buenos Aires (EcoBici)

Abstract

Public bike-sharing systems (PBSS) allow the use of shared bicycles for a period of time without owning them. In Buenos Aires and Madrid, PBSS were implemented in 2010 and 2014 respectively, managed by public authorities and oriented to find alternatives to mass transit. The advantages offered by PBSS are multiple, and socially and environmentally friendly. The purpose of this article is to conduct an exploration and analysis of the temporal and spatial pattern of trips made using PBSS for both cities before and during the COVID 19 pandemic, in order to contribute to the state of the art. The temporal and spatial patterns in both cities were similar in pre-pandemic times. Both systems were negatively impacted in 2020 in terms of the number of trips due to lockdowns imposed. Both PBSS were closed during the pandemic, but as they were relaunched, bike usage increased. In both cities there is a correlation between the level of supply and the use of the system, and new micromobility spaces were identified. It is relevant to consider the lack of available datasets as well as information processing capabilities.