The spatial-temporal evolution of public bike-sharing systems in China: The disruption of dockless bike-sharing emergence

Many Chinese cities have implemented the station-based public bike-sharing systems (PBSs). However, the recent spread of the dockless bike-sharing systems (DBSs) has significantly impacted PBSs, which has not been thoroughly investigated in previous research. This study bridges this research gap by examining the spatiotemporal evolution of China’s PBSs, with a particular focus on the changes brought by the entry of DBSs, by analyzing data on the start and end dates of PBSs and DBSs across the country. We utilized logistic regression to identify factors that may influence the decision to discontinue PBS operations, and examined selected representative cities to uncover the underlying structural and political factors affecting PBSs’ persistency. Findings reveal that the entry of DBSs disrupts PBS operations in many cities. PBSs are less likely to cease operation in cities with subways and in coastal areas, but more likely to do so in densely populated cities. Furthermore, technical advancements, operational consistency, adherence to government guidelines, and a well-planned station layout contribute to the continued viability of PBSs amidst the challenges posed by DBSs. Based on these results, we suggest that cities should improve the competitiveness of PBSs through better integration with public transit and optimization of PBS operations.