Determinants of Dockless Bicycle-Sharing Adoption and Usage Intensity for Commuting and Errands: Evidence from Disadvantaged Neighborhoods

The emergence of dockless bicycle sharing has transformed urban transportation, particularly in China, by offering a flexible and accessible travel option. However, understanding the factors driving its adoption and usage in disadvantaged neighborhoods is crucial, as these areas often face unique mo...

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Main Authors: Hongyu Wang, Yu Dong, Liang Ma
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-11-01
Series:Land
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/13/12/2055
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author Hongyu Wang
Yu Dong
Liang Ma
author_facet Hongyu Wang
Yu Dong
Liang Ma
author_sort Hongyu Wang
collection DOAJ
description The emergence of dockless bicycle sharing has transformed urban transportation, particularly in China, by offering a flexible and accessible travel option. However, understanding the factors driving its adoption and usage in disadvantaged neighborhoods is crucial, as these areas often face unique mobility challenges. This study explores these determinants, providing a more comprehensive analysis than prior research by focusing specifically on disadvantaged communities. Using survey data from four such neighborhoods in Xi’an, China, we apply Structural Equation Modeling to investigate the factors influencing individuals’ decisions to adopt and intensively use dockless bicycle sharing for commuting and errands. The results reveal key determinants, including psychological factors, demographic characteristics, and spatial and social contexts, and their interaction mechanisms. Attitudes are found to have a substantial impact on bicycle-sharing behavior for both commuting and errands, while social norms and perceived behavioral control (PBC) mainly influence usage for errands. Interestingly, PBC affects adoption but not usage frequency. The findings also highlight that proximity to schools, subways, and neighborhood aesthetics positively correlate with bicycle-sharing adoption for errands, whereas bicycling infrastructure significantly influences usage intensity. However, none of the neighborhood environment factors were found to significantly affect adoption for commuting purposes. These insights are especially valuable for developing targeted strategies to promote bicycle sharing as a sustainable transportation solution in disadvantaged neighborhoods, where improved access can significantly enhance mobility and quality of life.
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spelling doaj-art-483c4e0e29ee49ca86391132f97fd0a22025-08-20T02:00:34ZengMDPI AGLand2073-445X2024-11-011312205510.3390/land13122055Determinants of Dockless Bicycle-Sharing Adoption and Usage Intensity for Commuting and Errands: Evidence from Disadvantaged NeighborhoodsHongyu Wang0Yu Dong1Liang Ma2College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, No. 100, Zhongguancun North Street, Haidian District, Beijing 100871, ChinaCollege of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, No. 100, Zhongguancun North Street, Haidian District, Beijing 100871, ChinaCollege of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, No. 100, Zhongguancun North Street, Haidian District, Beijing 100871, ChinaThe emergence of dockless bicycle sharing has transformed urban transportation, particularly in China, by offering a flexible and accessible travel option. However, understanding the factors driving its adoption and usage in disadvantaged neighborhoods is crucial, as these areas often face unique mobility challenges. This study explores these determinants, providing a more comprehensive analysis than prior research by focusing specifically on disadvantaged communities. Using survey data from four such neighborhoods in Xi’an, China, we apply Structural Equation Modeling to investigate the factors influencing individuals’ decisions to adopt and intensively use dockless bicycle sharing for commuting and errands. The results reveal key determinants, including psychological factors, demographic characteristics, and spatial and social contexts, and their interaction mechanisms. Attitudes are found to have a substantial impact on bicycle-sharing behavior for both commuting and errands, while social norms and perceived behavioral control (PBC) mainly influence usage for errands. Interestingly, PBC affects adoption but not usage frequency. The findings also highlight that proximity to schools, subways, and neighborhood aesthetics positively correlate with bicycle-sharing adoption for errands, whereas bicycling infrastructure significantly influences usage intensity. However, none of the neighborhood environment factors were found to significantly affect adoption for commuting purposes. These insights are especially valuable for developing targeted strategies to promote bicycle sharing as a sustainable transportation solution in disadvantaged neighborhoods, where improved access can significantly enhance mobility and quality of life.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/13/12/2055bicycle sharingneighborhood environmentadoptionusage frequencydisadvantaged neighborhood
spellingShingle Hongyu Wang
Yu Dong
Liang Ma
Determinants of Dockless Bicycle-Sharing Adoption and Usage Intensity for Commuting and Errands: Evidence from Disadvantaged Neighborhoods
Land
bicycle sharing
neighborhood environment
adoption
usage frequency
disadvantaged neighborhood
title Determinants of Dockless Bicycle-Sharing Adoption and Usage Intensity for Commuting and Errands: Evidence from Disadvantaged Neighborhoods
title_full Determinants of Dockless Bicycle-Sharing Adoption and Usage Intensity for Commuting and Errands: Evidence from Disadvantaged Neighborhoods
title_fullStr Determinants of Dockless Bicycle-Sharing Adoption and Usage Intensity for Commuting and Errands: Evidence from Disadvantaged Neighborhoods
title_full_unstemmed Determinants of Dockless Bicycle-Sharing Adoption and Usage Intensity for Commuting and Errands: Evidence from Disadvantaged Neighborhoods
title_short Determinants of Dockless Bicycle-Sharing Adoption and Usage Intensity for Commuting and Errands: Evidence from Disadvantaged Neighborhoods
title_sort determinants of dockless bicycle sharing adoption and usage intensity for commuting and errands evidence from disadvantaged neighborhoods
topic bicycle sharing
neighborhood environment
adoption
usage frequency
disadvantaged neighborhood
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/13/12/2055
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AT yudong determinantsofdocklessbicyclesharingadoptionandusageintensityforcommutinganderrandsevidencefromdisadvantagedneighborhoods
AT liangma determinantsofdocklessbicyclesharingadoptionandusageintensityforcommutinganderrandsevidencefromdisadvantagedneighborhoods