DESIGN OF A BICYCLE SHARING SYSTEM

Abstract

In recent years, Bicycle Sharing Systems (or Bike Sharing Schemes) have been gaining popularity all over the world as an alternative mode of transportation that can improve first mile/last mile connection. In this thesis, a design for a Bike Sharing Scheme test bed in Punggol is proposed. Specifically, the locations where bike stations should be installed were determined, as well as the number of bikes that should be allocated to each station at the start of the day. The optimal network was derived using a Proportional Stochastic Network Flow Model that was solved in GAMS. The network was also simulated in order to determine its expected performance. It was found that with a fixed number of 30 bikes and 5 stations, each bike can be expected to be utilised an average of 12 time per day. Besides designing the Bike Sharing Scheme network, the cycling situation in Singapore and specifically Punggol was analysed to establish the opportunities for a Bike Sharing Scheme to be introduced. A business model for the scheme was also proposed, taking into consideration the best practices that have been adopted in similar schemes overseas.