At a time when sustainability and the reduction of carbon emissions are at the heart of urban concerns, bike-share in the United States is transforming the transportation landscape. In 2023, more than 157 million bikes were used, demonstrating their growing integration into communities' sustainable mobility strategies. But what are the realities behind these promising figures? This article explores the current state, challenges and future of bike sharing in North America, offering a comparative analysis with Europe to outline the prospects for this rapidly expanding mode of transport.

The North American Bikeshare and Scootershare Association (NABSA), in an article on its website written by Laura Mallonee states "shared micromobility has proven its value as an essential transportation service. With the launch of the first bike-share systems in North America in 2009, shared scooters in 2017 and the boom in e-bike sharing in 2018, shared micromobility has gained in popularity and experienced steady growth since its inception."

In the United States, bike-share systems have taken a prominent place in urban mobility strategies in recent years, illustrating a growing commitment to more sustainable and environmentally-friendly lifestyles.

What does this mean, and what can we say about bike-share systems in the USA today?

This article presents the current state of bike-share in the USA, highlights similarities and differences with Europe, examines the challenges facing the industry, and explores its benefits and future prospects.

Current status and challenges of bike-share in the USA

Micromobility in North America — Credits: NACTO

Presentation of the ecosystem

Bike-share in the United States is characterized by a diversity of systems, including both docked and dockless bike systems.

In 2023, according to the National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO) report, users made a total of 157 million trips on bike-share systems and e-scooters in the USA and Canada. Shared micromobility trips increased by 20% compared to 2022, surpassing the pre-pandemic peak of 147 million trips in 2019 in both countries. 113 million of these trips were made in the United States and 24 million in Canada. The number of bike-share trips using stations increased from 67 million in 2022 to 81 million in 2023.

Micromobility graphic in USA and Canada — Credits: NACTO

Micromobility graphic in USA — Credits: NACTO

Several notable advances have been made, such as the increase in e-bike journeys and the expansion of infrastructure.

The e-bike boom of the last few years has continued, particularly on bike-share systems using fixed stations. In systems offering both options, e-bikes are used much more than mechanical bikes. In Los Angeles, e-bikes are used 8 times more than mechanical bikes, and 4 times more in New York. Between 2022 and 2023, Los Angeles quadrupled its fleet of e-bikes, tripling the number of journeys from 87,000 in 2022 to 232,000 in 2023. In New York, the increase in the availability of e-bikes from 20% to 25% of the fleet has led to a 50% increase in trips.

Metro e-bikes users — Credits: Better Bike Share

A study by the National Association of City Transportation Officials showed that the installation of protected bike lanes increased the number of cyclists by 21% to 171%, depending on the city. People feel safer and are therefore more inclined to use bicycles as a means of transport (NACTO). Between 2018 and 2021, Austin, Texas, built 160 km of new bike lanes, including 22 fully or partially protected intersections. Austin remained one of the leading U.S. cities for shared micromobility ridership in 2022. The city recorded 3.4 million trips on free-floating e-bikes and scooters, and over 300,000 trips on bike-share systems using stations.

Map of Austin bike path — Credits: City of Austin Bicycle Plan

However, these positive developments in bike-sharing in the U.S. should not overshadow the persistent challenges that accompany the expansion of these services.

Challenges

If the road to innovation is fraught with challenges, the bike-share sector in the United States is no exception. It faces technical, safety and economic hurdles that call for creative and sustainable solutions.

Bike maintenance is a major challenge for operators. VLS systems require regular monitoring and servicing to ensure safety and smooth operation. The wear and tear caused by frequent use, combined with varied weather conditions, calls for costly and complex maintenance operations.

User safety remains a constant concern. Accidents involving bicycles can often be attributed to inadequate infrastructure, such as the lack of safe bike lanes and adequate signage. Statistics show that in cities like San Francisco, serious incidents are not uncommon, highlighting the need to improve infrastructure to protect cyclists, and to raise awareness and educate both cyclists and motorists.

Financing is another critical challenge for bike-sharing systems. The high initial costs of installing stations and purchasing bikes, coupled with regular operational expenses, often make these systems dependent on public subsidies. Cities like Chicago (Divvy) have had to inject millions of dollars to support their bike-share systems. This dependence on public funds raises questions about the long-term viability of these initiatives, especially in a context of constrained municipal budgets.

On the one hand, the high initial costs of installing stations and purchasing bikes, added to regular operating expenses, often make these systems dependent on public subsidies. Cities such as Chicago (Divvy) have had to inject millions of dollars to support their bike-share systems. This dependence on public funding raises questions about the long-term viability of these initiatives, especially in a context of constrained municipal budgets. On the other hand, accessibility for users is not so obvious. Between 2019 and 2023, the cost of annual or monthly transport passes will have risen sharply, with increases of 30% in Boston, 32% in Chicago, and 21% in New York, Hoboken, Jersey City and Toronto. Today, the price of an annual season ticket generally exceeds $100, and can even exceed $200 in the New York area.

Having examined the current VLS landscape in the USA, let's turn our gaze to Europe. Let's see how the similarities and differences between these two regions are shaping the future of urban mobility.

Similarities and differences between VLS in the United States and Europe

As VLS gains in popularity on both sides of the Atlantic, a comparison between the USA and Europe is in order. It will reveal the commonalities and marked distinctions influencing the expansion and adoption of this mode of urban transport.

Similarities

Bike-share systems in the USA and Europe share many features, including the use of advanced technologies and a commitment to sustainability. In both regions, advanced mobile applications make it easy to reserve, unlock and pay for bikes. These applications are used in systems such as Citi Bike in New York and Santander Cycles in London.

Santander App London — Credits: Santander

What's more, cities on both continents are increasingly integrating bike-sharing into their sustainable mobility policies, aimed at reducing urban congestion and carbon emissions. San Francisco and Copenhagen, for example, have made major investments in their cycling infrastructures to encourage this environmentally-friendly form of transport, testifying to the global commitment to cleaner, greener cities.

Differences

Significant differences remain, mainly due to differences in culture, regulations and financial support.

Europe has a deeply rooted cycling culture, with cities such as Amsterdam and Copenhagen. In these cities, cycling is the main means of transport for a large proportion of the population. Over 40% of journeys are made by bike, thanks to an extensive network of safe cycle paths.

In the USA, despite progress in some cities like Portland and Minneapolis, which are beginning to develop a bike culture with infrastructure, most major cities are still at the stage of building bikeway networks.

This difference is often attributed to Europe's higher urban density, which facilitates greater use of shared bikes, while urban sprawl in the US presents unique challenges for integrating cycling as a central element of the transportation network.

An example of this difference is the number of shared vehicles available in these regions. Europe, comprising the EU plus the UK, Norway and Switzerland, has 796,000 shared vehicles, dominated by electric scooters and e-bikes, which make up 64% of the fleet. By comparison, North America, including the USA and Canada, has 280,000 shared vehicles, with electric scooters predominating at 61%.

Infography North America vs Europe — Credits: Fluctuo

Demographically, the comparison is even more significant. Europe (EU + UK + Norway) has 796,000 shared vehicles for a population of 515 million, or around 1.55 shared vehicles per 1,000 inhabitants. By comparison, North America (including the USA and Canada) has 280,000 shared vehicles for a population of 372 million, or 0.75 shared vehicles per 1,000 inhabitants. This statistic shows a higher density of shared vehicles per inhabitant in Europe, indicating a more widespread adoption and deeper integration of shared mobility into everyday transportation practices, compared to North America.

Regulatory frameworks in Europe are more conducive to bicycle use than in the United States. In Europe, stringent policies, such as those on low-emission zones, restrict car use in urban centers to encourage cycling. Unlike the USA, where the culture is much more car-centered.

The European Union has demonstrated its commitment to integrating cycling into its sustainable mobility plan. In April 2024, a joint declaration by the EU institutions underlined the crucial role of cycling in reducing CO2 emissions from transport.

In terms of financing, European systems benefit from substantial government subsidies, as in Paris with the Vélib' system, supported by the mayor's office and private partnerships. In the USA, the funding model may depend more on the private sector, such as Citi Bike in New York, sponsored by Citibank. These distinctions underline the importance of specific local contexts in the design and implementation of bike-sharing systems, requiring tailored strategies that respond effectively to the needs and conditions of each region.

These examples illustrate how, despite similar goals of reducing carbon footprints and improving urban mobility, the USA and Europe adapt their VLS systems to specific local contexts, reflecting differences in culture, politics and economic support.

Having explored the similarities and differences in approaches to VLS between the USA and Europe, let's now examine the substantial benefits and promising future prospects of this sustainable mode of transport in the USA.

Benefits and future prospects

Benefits and technological impact

Bike-share systems in the United States offer multiple benefits, helping to improve public health, reduce carbon footprints, and increase urban mobility. By offering a healthy alternative to motorized transport, these systems encourage regular physical activity, reducing cardiovascular disease and sedentary lifestyles such as diabetes and obesity. From an environmental point of view, they significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, thus contributing to the fight against climate change. A study carried out in Portland, Oregon, showed that increased adoption of e-bikes could reduce CO2 emissions by 12% in the transport sector, with an average saving of 225 kg of CO2 per e-bike per year.

Cyclists Portland — Crédits: Portland.go

Technological advances are a key enabler of efficient bike-share systems. With the adoption of e-bikes and sophisticated mobile applications enabling users to locate and reserve bikes easily, access to and use of bikes has become easier and more attractive. The integration of e-bikes in New York has seen a 40% increase in usage over traditional bikes, paving the way for longer, less exhausting journeys that reach many different types of population.

As technological innovation makes cycling more accessible and attractive, it paves the way for future developments that could further transform our cities and the way we get around.

Future prospects

The future prospects for bike sharing are strengthened by public policies supporting the expansion and improvement of these systems. Cities such as Chicago and Minneapolis are planning not only to expand their existing networks, but also to fully integrate cycling with other forms of public transport for mobility that is better adapted to people's needs.

In addition, initiatives to make systems more accessible and affordable, such as subsidies and fare adjustments, are on the increase to support wider adoption of bike-share in the USA.

In conclusion, bike-share in the USA is emerging as an essential component of sustainable urban mobility. Major advances have been made in the deployment of bike-share systems and their growing acceptance. The increased introduction of e-bikes has also played a key role in their growing use. Challenges such as maintenance, safety and financing require innovative solutions and ongoing support to ensure the sustainability and expansion of bike schemes. Comparisons with Europe demonstrate the importance of cultural and regulatory contexts influencing the adoption of VLS. For the future, a focus on public policies that encourage the expansion and integration of bike-share systems with other forms of public transport promises to boost the efficiency and attractiveness of this mode of transport. The growing trend to make bike-share systems more accessible and affordable could also increase their use in the USA.

Bike-share remains a dynamic branch of micromobility in the USA with considerable potential to transform urban mobility to make it greener, healthier and more sustainable.

To learn more about micromobility in the USA, read our article on the electric bike boom in North America.

Two wheels, two continents: future prospects for bikeshare in North America and european comparisons