New platform for bike sharing systems to be launched

As a response to positive interest generated from its Smarter Cycling initiative, the European Cyclists’ Federation (ECF) is to launch a Europe-wide Platform on Bicycle Sharing & Systems, as part of its Cycling Industry Club network.

Big data, mobility-as-a-cervice, and smart cities are setting the agenda for the smart mobility transition. Rapid growth in private fleet-based bicycle systems, as well as innovation within traditional public bicycle share schemes and now electric bicycle share, support the need for an intra-industry forum and stakeholder platform in Europe.

“There’s a tremendous amount of innovation happening all across the European market space, vis-à-vis shared bicycle mobility, but as with so many other ad-hoc examples, these developments sprout up, even blossom, but with little immediate cross-fertilised evangelism,” Paul Stratta, Director, Smarter Cycling/Cycling For Growth, ECF, told Cities Today. “Imagine how much more yield European society can harvest if more of the region were developing smart, urban shared bicycle mobility at the same speed?”

The platform’s key dual-objectives will be to share bicycle mobility best practices, making them more accessible so collaborative synergies can be developed, and harness the political and investment resources to grow smarter bicycle sharing and allied systems all across the region.

Platform participants will be traditional public bicycle share providers, system operators, connected bicycle manufacturers, peer-to-peer system facilitators, corporate leasing, cargo/rickshaw services, as well as related suppliers and stakeholders, including NGOs. Cities and urban planning organisations that operate their own local systems are also welcomed.

“Cities increasingly need the most contemporary information, and true-world applied solutions, to combat urban congestion, spiralling fixed-lane transit costs, and wasted time among their citizens trying to get about the urban environment,” added Stratta. “Shared bicycle use can be a compelling route to making more efficient urban commuting, while simultaneously contributing to better health outcomes. And with today’s myriad work places, and intra-collaboration between offices, teams, and entities, shared bicycle mobility can be the solution to moving commuters faster, cheaper, and more sanely across the urban jungle.”

Initial supporters of the Platform on Bicycle Sharing & Systems include Nextbike, Cycleurope, Smoove, PON, ElectricFeel, BikePlus, Stage Intelligence, the Accell Group, and the North American Bikeshare Association.