NAIROBI, May 18 (Xinhua) -- Governments and municipal authorities should promote greater uptake of a non-fixed and technology-driven bicycle sharing model to ease traffic congestion in cities, says a report by New York-based Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP) launched in Nairobi on Friday.
The report titled "Optimizing Dockless Bikeshare for Cities" says that this non-motorized transport model pioneered in China four years ago, has potential for scale-up subject to policy realignment, public awareness, better management of public spaces, improved security and deployment of skilled personnel.
Dana Yanocha, a Senior Research Associate at ITDP, said that dockless bikeshare should be viewed as an integral part of urban transport renewal through adoption of new technologies and innovations.
"Dockless bikeshare has a reputation for being a disruptor but that is not necessarily what people need. The best transit innovations-especially those that are privately operated offer riders convenient, affordable options for getting where they need to go," said Yanocha.
Currently, more than 1,000 cities around the world offer some form of bikeshare service while the dockless model has gained traction thanks to low capital investment required to scale it up.
The ITDP report revealed that dockless bikeshare has replaced an estimated 10 percent of the car trips and 13 percent of gasoline consumption in China's technology hub, Shenzhen.
Yanocha stressed that dockless bikeshare should be integrated with mass transit systems that major cities have launched in a bid to reduce traffic congestion that is accompanied by high pollution levels and economic losses.
"Local governments that have viewed dockless bikeshare as an extension of their transit systems and introduced some form of regulation have seen ridership flourish as result," Yanocha said.
The ITDP report noted that for dockless bikesharing model to succeed in world metropolis, governments must incorporate it within mass transit system, promote data sharing, recruit dedicated staff, enhance safety of riders and management of public spaces to avoid conflicts with other road users.
At the same time, the report underscores the role of strong regulations and establishment of designated parking zones to facilitate seamless integration of dockless bikeshare into urban transport system.