Public bicycle sharing as a population-scale health intervention for active transportation in Denver, Colorado

• Main Author: Duvall, Andrew L
• Format: Dissertation
• Language: English
• Published: ProQuest Dissertations & Theses 01.01.2012
• Subjects: Behavioral psychology; Health sciences; Sustainability
• ISBN: 9781267312969; 1267312963

Inadequate physical activity associated with acute car dependence is linked to increased risk of obesity and related chronic health conditions, including heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, depression and cancer. More than half of U.S. adults do not meet the minimum recommended levels of physical activity. This research is a mixed methods quantitative/qualitative study of the impact of a public bicycle sharing system as a health intervention to induce active transportation behavior. The primary quantitative outcome was a net increase in active transportation through shared bike use. Qualitative outcomes included investigation of the effects of the intervention on the behaviors of individual users, sources of motivation to participate and continue use, indicators and pathways of diffusion of the intervention, and broader impacts of the intervention. Denver B-cycle annual members logged an average 60.3 minutes of weekly checkout time, of which an estimated 35.5% to 50.0% replaced car trips. Annual members differed significantly from the general population, being more likely to be male, non-Hispanic, Caucasian, aged 25 and 44, more educated, with higher income, higher self-reported health status, and tended to be of normal weight. Multivariate models of influencing factors found two key variables associated with the number of checkouts among annual members. Commuting via shared bikes and the ability to replace car use increased the odds of higher checkouts. Proximity of residence to Denver B-cycle stations was not a significant predictor. Women were as likely as men to commute via shared bikes. The use of Denver B-cycle increased net active transportation among annual members. Users discovered their own meaningful ways in which the use of shared bicycle best served their needs. Some participants best able to integrate Denver B-cycle into their lifestyles reported weight loss, increased fitness, reduced car dependence, and economic benefits. The central implication of this research is that public bicycle sharing can be effectively applied to increase active transportation behavior. The findings are consequential for two trends: shifts away from car use toward use of shared bikes, and increases in overall active transportation.