Research from the University of Valencia (UV) shows that 37% of users of the shared bicycle service (Valenbisi) maintained their mobility routine during the COVID-19 pandemic. In an article published in the Cities magazine and on a sample of 4,355 people, they reaffirm with objective data that this system is a relevant and consolidated means of transport in the city of Valencia.
“In the face of a health emergency, 37% of people did not change their behaviour pattern, probably because they are essential professionals”, highlights the UV team, which has also verified a 40% reduction in movements after the post-confinement opening of the Valenbisi service.
The results obtained indicate that 63% of users changed their commuting routine by shared bicycle after the COVID-19 outbreak. In addition, of the 37% who maintained their usual behaviour during the pandemic, the study has observed “slight” changes such as an increase in mobility in the morning compared to those made in the afternoon, when the greatest mobility restrictions occurred.
“The results obtained are useful for calculating what percentage of the population maintains regular behaviour in emergency situations. In addition, they allow encouraging investments related to mobility such as building new infrastructures (sections of bike lanes), improving the shared bicycle system or pavement signage, among others”, point out Laura Antón and Miquel Pans, Prometheus researchers in the Department of Physical and Sports Education to which the six signatories of the article belong.
To determine the mobility patterns of all the users of the shared bicycle system in Valencia before and after the COVID-19 outbreak, the UV team used an innovative data analysis method, SOM. This method allows users to be grouped according to 25 variables with which to characterise user behaviour. Of these, 63% of users who changed their movement, as well as 37% who maintained their behaviour, were affected by 15 variables. The main difference is that the 37% user group made minor changes to their behaviour before and after the outbreak.
This study is part of the project “Sustainable transport in Valencia: socio-environmental, urban and health analysis of the Valenbisi service”, subsidised by the Department of Innovation, Universities, Science and Digital Society of the Valencian Government (GVPROMETHEUS2021-026). More information at: http://bicival.uv.es/.
Article: Seifert R., Pellicer-Chenoll M., Antón-González L., Pans M., Devís-Devís J., González L. M. «Who changed and who maintained their urban bike-sharing mobility after the COVID-19 outbreak? A within-subjects study». Cities. 2023 Jun;137:104343. doi: 10.1016/j.cities.2023.104343. Epub 2023 Apr 24. PMID: 37125007; PMCID: PMC10123356.
