Bikesharing is a sustainable and environmentally friendly transportation alternative that targets daily mobility by providing short-term bicycle rentals. Bikesharing programs allow users to access bicycles on an “as-needed” basis. Programs are commonly concentrated in urban settings and provide multiple bike station locations that enable users to pick up and return bicycles to different stations. They operate via unattended bike stations where bicycle reservations, pick-up, and drop-off are self-service. Bikesharing programs typically cover bicycle purchase and maintenance costs, as well as storage and parking responsibilities (similar to carsharing or short-term auto use).

Having access to multiple bikesharing locations makes short distance travel within participating cities more convenient. Individuals who may not otherwise use bicycles (i.e., tourists or individuals who do not own a bicycle or have access to bicycle storage) are able to enjoy the benefits of cycling without the responsibility of ownership. By making large numbers of bicycles available for use at various locations, bikesharing may increase the number of individuals who use cycling to fulfill daily mobility needs. The ultimate goal of bikesharing is to expand and integrate cycling into transportation systems, so that it can more readily become a daily transportation mode.

The potential benefits of bikesharing include:

     1) Increased mobility options;

     2) Cost savings from modal shifts;

     3) Lower implementation and operational costs (e.g., in contrast to shuttle          services);

     4) Reduced traffic congestion;

     5) Reduced fuel use;

     6) Increased use of public transit and alternative modes (e.g., rail, buses,          taxis, carsharing, ridesharing, etc.);

     7) Increased health benefits; and

     8) Greater environmental awareness.

The potential social and environmental benefits of bikesharing have sparked interest worldwide.

     ·   As of March 2011, there were four continents operating approximately          135 bikesharing programs in an estimated 160 cities around the world.*

     ·   As of March 2011, there were over 235,000 bicycles and over 12,800          bike stations available worldwide.

     ·   As of March 2011, there were 6 bikesharing programs in North America          operating with over 9,000 bicycles and over 750 bicycle stations.*

     ·   As of March 2011, there were approximately 122,000 long-term and          short-term bikesharing members in North America.

     ·   As of March 2011, there were over 35 additional bikesharing programs          planned in 16 nations.

* The authors count one program for each system that spans multiple cities in one country.

Carsharing allows people to rent cars on a short-term (hourly or daily), as-needed basis, paying only for the time they use the car and the mileage they drive. The operators of the carsharing program provide vehicle maintenance, repair, and insurance.

The term “shared-use vehicle” is a broader concept that encompasses both carsharing and station car programs.  Station car programs are designed to facilitate transit access in the cases where the final destination of a person who uses public transportation is located too far away from the endpoint of the transit route; people can drive station cars to complete the final leg of their trip.  

Shared-use vehicles allow individuals to gain the benefits of using a private car without the costs and responsibilities of owning a car.  Members of a shared-use vehicle or carsharing program pick-up and return vehicles at shared use lots that are scattered throughout a particular region or concentrated at a transit station, activity or employment center.  Typically, a member makes a reservation in advance, lets him or herself into the vehicle with a personal card or key, and drives away.  When the person is done using the car, she returns the car to its home parking space, locks it, and leaves it for the next carsharer. 

The benefits of carsharing can include:

·     More careful consideration of the necessity, duration, and distance of automobile trips, resulting in decreased vehicle use and ownership.

·     Greater consideration given to alternative modes, resulting in increased transit ridership, biking, and walking.

·     Cost savings to individuals and employers.

·     Energy savings and air quality benefits.

·     Reduced parking demand at participating transit stations, member employer sites, and residential locations.

Due to its many potential benefits, carsharing is gaining in popularity, as demonstrated by increasing North American membership.

·     As of July 2011, 26 U.S. carsharing programs claimed 560,572 members sharing 10,019 vehicles.

·     As of July 2011, 78,840 members shared 2,605 vehicles among 20 carsharing organizations in Canada.

·     As of October 2010, carsharing was operating in 26 countries and five continents, accounting for an estimated 1,250,000 members sharing approximately 31,000 vehicles. 

·     As of October 2010, carsharing was planned in eight additional countries worldwide.

Goods movement is a term used to describe the way goods are transported by truck, train, ship, and plane. Not only is goods movement vital to the health of the country’s economy, it impacts the health of its citizens. California’s roadways carry more commercial vehicle truck traffic than any other state, and almost all of these trucks run on diesel.  Diesel exhaust has serious effects on human health; it is classified by California as a carcinogen and contains 40 hazardous air pollutants listed by the U.S. EPA.  Moreover, of all transportation sources, heavy-duty vehicles generate 19 percent of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S., and are therefore a significant contributor to global warming.

IMR’s goods movement projects are aimed at researching innovative solutions to reduce the negative environmental and health impacts associated with getting products from Point A to Point B. Currently, IMR’s projects include smart parking for trucks and virtual weigh stations. 

Improving transit connections through innovative mobility options such as carsharing, smart parking, the EasyConnect program, and ridesharing can make seamless door-to-door connectivity a viable option for consumers.  These modes of transportation help get people out of their individual cars and into public transit or carpooling. IMR’s research is focused on improving transit connections because of the many benefits that result. Reducing the number of trips made by single occupancy vehicles eases traffic congestion, saves energy because less fuel is used, and cuts down on air pollution.

Some segments of society face certain challenges to mobility that others in the general population do not. In the transportation arena, special populations can include immigrants, racial or ethnic groups, older people, and people with disabilities. IMR’s current research is examining special populations’ travel patterns to see what can be done to remove any mobility barriers they may face and to enhance their mobility.  IMR’s past projects in this area explored extending safe travel for older people.