Who are bike sharing schemes members and how they travel daily? The case of the Lyon’s “Velo’v” scheme

This paper analyzes the socio-demographic profile and travel behavior of the “Velov” bikesharing scheme members in Lyon (France). This scheme started in 2005 and has now around 350 stations and 4500 bikes in operation, with more than 50,000 annual members. Thanks to a specific Internet-based survey more than 3,000 respondents were described by their detailed socio-demographic profile, their travel means and habits, a one-day activity-travel diary and additionally a seven days activity-travel diary log by around 700 volunteers. By this way the survey covers all travel modes and day-to-day variations in travel behavior beyond the sole use of shared bike. We analyze with a discrete choice model the socio-demographic and spatial factors affecting the probability of being an annual member of the Velov scheme. Then we explore with descriptive statistics their daily travel behavior involving as well bike sharing as other traditional modes. When possible this behavior is compared with the latest Household Travel Survey available in the Lyon area (2006). Velov annual members are rather younger and hold higher social positions when compared with the Lyon’s reference population. An individual higher social position and the residential proximity to stations have both separate and positive effects on the probability of being an annual member of the service. Velov members are not captive from public transport, they have access to a car and they are fully multimodal in their day-to-day travel behavior. Velo’v bikes are used by them for any activity, not necessarily every day, like any other travel mode