SHARED BICYCLE PARKING IN SINGAPORE: THE PERSPECTIVE OF CYCLISTS

Abstract

Bike sharing is gaining popularity all over the world. Introduced in January 2017, bike-sharing programs in Singapore provide a convenient and healthy option for first-and-last-mile journey. However, the rise of bike sharing also leads to the rising concern in indiscriminate parking. It is common to see shared bicycle parked haphazardly, causing safety risks and inconvenience to the public. Despite several rounds of measures by the government and operators to curb indiscriminate parking, the problem persists. This paper aims to investigate factors underlying indiscriminate parking by identifying factors affecting shared bicycle users’ intention to park bicycles at designated parking spaces.

Applying the Theory of Planned Behavior, surveys were conducted to identify factors affecting shared bicycle users’ intention to park shared bicycles at designated parking spaces. Face-to-face interviews aim to understand users’ perception on current measures and policies to curb indiscriminate parking. The result shows that opinion of family members and friends towards proper parking and availability of designated parking spaces are the two most essential factors affecting users’ intention to park bicycles at designated parking spaces. Users’ attitude towards proper parking and positive parking behavior of other users have positive impact on users’ intention to park shared bicycles properly. The availability of features (such as size and shelter) of designated parking spaces also positively affect users’ intention. The paper concludes by giving recommendations aiming to curb indiscriminate parking in four aspects, namely, policy, infrastructure, education programs and urban governance.