A Strategic Repositioning Algorithm for Bicycle-Sharing Schemes

Difficulties in maintaining adequate numbers of bicycles and free docking spaces are a known issue in the operation of bicycle-sharing schemes. Empty and full stations in such systems are equally undesirable, since the former turn away potential users while the latter could not be used to terminate bicycle journeys. Repositioning practices have been used in the past to address this situation with partial success. This paper introduces a new approach for the optimization of such activities, addressing both routing and assignment aspects of bicycle repositioning using a fleet of carrier vehicles. A case study on bicycle usage patterns from a large bicycle-sharing scheme is carried out; examples are also provided that demonstrate the behavior of the algorithm. Implementation concerns and means to improve computational performance are also discussed.

• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Authors:
  • Angeloudis, Panagiotis
  • Hu, Jun
  • Bell, Michael G H
• Conference:
  • Transportation Research Board 91st Annual Meeting
  • Location: Washington DC, United States
  • Date: 2012-1-22 to 2012-1-26
• Date: 2012

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures; References;
• Pagination: 10p
• Monograph Title: TRB 91st Annual Meeting Compendium of Papers DVD

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Case studies; Fleet management; Optimization; Vehicle fleets; Vehicle sharing
• Subject Areas: Operations and Traffic Management; Pedestrians and Bicyclists; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01366149
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: 12-3210
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Mar 27 2012 11:11AM