More is better for bikeshare stations

[finehoe]

A new study from the National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO) says people use bikeshare more when a given area has more stations. But the study makes a density recommendation that's going to be hard to ever meet.

NACTO's report, released April 28th, adds to the growing body of research that says station density is a key factor in a bikeshare system's success. While that claim isn't controversial in itself, NACTO's suggestions regarding station density cause a bit more friction.

NACTO recommends that cities place bikeshare stations no more than 1,000 feet apart—that is, at a density of 28 stations per square mile. This density would put a bikeshare station within a five-minute walk of each resident in a city.

Looking at ridership statistics from bikeshare systems across the US, NACTO finds, unsurprisingly, that systems are more successful when they have more stations close together. NACTO says that most bikeshare riders are convenience users, and if a system is not convenient, riders will choose another mobility option.

http://nacto.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/NACTO_Walkable-Station-Spacing-Is-Key-For-Bike-Share.pdf