Implications of pricing and fleet size strategies on shared bikes and e-scooters: a case study from Lyon, France
Résumé
In many cities, shared micromobility services (SMMS) have become popular. These services contribute to the popularity of car-alternative mobility by promoting the use of micro-vehicles. Bike-sharing and escooter-sharing systems are examples of these services. Despite their potential, SMMS are still marginal. To unlock this full potential, there is a need to comprehend the implications of the introduction strategies of SMMS on the adoption, use, and profitability of these services. This paper investigates the implications of the size of the fleet and pricing of shared bikes and escooters. This research relies on an agent-based transport simulation framework of Lyon, France. The results show that despite their actual marginal share, SMMS have a non negligible growth potential in Lyon. This potential is actually unfulfilled due to sub-optimal pricing and fleet size strategies. More optimal strategies from the point of view of service providers and customers are discussed in the paper.