Assessing the role of bikesharing in transit-oriented development: a case study of Birmingham

Transit-oriented development (TOD) is a community development strategy that has increasingly gained exposure in urban areas across the United States as a method for reducing sprawl and increasing community vitality. Specifically, bikesharing is seen to play a major role in the success of transit-oriented development across urban communities as it increases travel possibilities, encourages public transit connections, and provides opportunities for recreation. This research employed a case study of Zyp BikeShare, a point-to-point bike rental program that began in Birmingham, Alabama, in 2015. Here, we analyzed the bikesharing program in terms of implementation and development, user catchment, transit paths, and usage trends. In doing so, we were able to create a methodology for analyzing specific bikeshare programs. Similar methodology can be applied to other bikesharing programs as the transit-oriented development technique continues to grow and develop in American cities.