Information Systems Support of Bike Sharing Systems

Over the past years, BSS(Bike Sharing Systems) have evolved from unsupervised to fully automated systems. In the beginnings, bike sharing suffered from anonymous use that led to theft. In recent years, the implementation of information systems in bike sharing overcame theft and enabled easy and quick access supporting rentals and returns at automated stations providing one-way trips. The implementation of BSS is rapidly growing. According to Midgley (2009), about 80 systems with almost 27,000 bikes and more than 4600 stations were in operation in May 2009. About 400 BSS have been introduced in Europe during the last 10 years. Markets in America and Asia are catching up.

 
 

In order to give more details on BSS, a brief overview of bike sharing evolution is presented. Furthermore, the automated service process enabled by information systems is discussed. Information systems also provide a vast amount of data reflecting the mobility behavior in BSS. For a better understanding of BSS, a brief summary of bike sharing evolution is given according to DeMaio (2009a) and Shaheen et al. (2010). Three generations of BSS can be identified, whereas a fourth generation is evolving. The idea to provide bikes for inner-city trips to the public was put into practice in Amsterdam in the year 1965. This first generation of BSS started with ordinary bikes painted white.
 
The system was open to anyone and bikes could dropped off anywhere. Theft and vandalism caused the system to collapse within days. The second generation was developed almost 30 years later in the 1990s. The Copenhagen “Bycyklen” introduced special designed robust bikes with advertising plates on the spokes. The bikes were locked at special stations distributed over the city. A coin deposit was necessary to pick up the bikes. Therefore, users were still anonymous and the program suffered from theft. The program was terminated at the end of 2012 and a new system is currently under development. The third and nowadays dominating generation of BSS is smartened with electronically locked bikes or bike racks. Users have to register with a smartcard or credit cards to rent bikes. Furthermore, information and telecommunication systems for a better user and bike tracking are established. The fourth, currently developing, generation integrates new technology such as electric bikes, GPS tracking of bikes, and smartcards facilitating intermodal integration.The picture below is the newly designed GPS Bike Lock, which Seamlessly combined with HW and SW and bringing superior riding experience and visualized operation. 
BSS provide likewise public but individual mobility with the help of self-service rental stations. The introduction of information systems started the success of BSS by enabling automated easy, quick, and convenient service. In particular, information systems support rental and return processes. In contrast to the easy use on the front-end side, BSS operators have to execute effortful and thus costly measures in order to enable reliable service on the back-end side. Additionally, the role of information systems in the service process aligned to BSS is described focusing on the provision of service.
 
Service providers offer services. Incorporating users as an external factor is special about services. Consequently, the service process is divided according to the user transaction phases. These phases comprise initiation, agreement, and execution. Each phase consists of individual tasks, whereas a distinction between tasks with and without direct user contact, i.e., front office and back office, is made. The initiation phase specifies services with the help of marketing measures and the associated services are provided. Next, users select services according to their needs based on available information and consulting. In the subsequent agreement phase, service provider and user conclude an agreement on the service. Finally, the service is executed, billed, and paid.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Tracksolid Platform ( GPS Platforms )

Jimilab Offers Asset Mannagement Solutions for You

JIMI Electronics Released JH09W Wifi Home Montior