With public transport (PT) continuing to be negatively affected by the
coronavirus pandemic and private car usage surging, alternative modes need to be
considered. In this study, we review the available evidence (from academic and
gray literature sources) on the performance of bike sharing systems (BSSs)
during COVID-19 around the world, with the goal of assessing their potential
contribution to improving the resilience of transport systems during pandemics
and similar disruptive events. We found BSS usage followed a decrease-rebound
pattern, with BSSs overall sustaining lower ridership declines and faster
recoveries compared with PT. During lockdowns especially, the average duration
of BSS trips increased, following a rise in casual users and leisure trips,
while commuting trips decreased. Evidence has also been found for a possible
modal shift from some PT users to BSSs, with a decline in the share of
multimodal trips conducted between PT and BSSs. Bike sharing is perceived as
safer than other shared modes (e.g., PT, taxis, and ride-hailing/sharing) but as
having a higher infection risk than personal modes (e.g., private car, walking,
and personal bike). Moreover, the BSS was an important transport alternative for
essential workers, with several operators providing waivers especially to
healthcare staff, leading to ridership increases near healthcare facilities and
in deprived neighborhoods. Findings from this research support policies for
promoting bike sharing, namely through fee reductions, system expansions, and
symbiotic integration with PT, as BSSs can increase the sustainability and
resilience of transport systems during disruptive public health events like
COVID-19.