Bike sharing: how it works and why it’s on trend
Bike sharing is more popular than ever. People love getting around by bike and using green, sustainable electric vehicles for urban trips, in cities and tourist destinations.
It is a phenomenon that has developed over the last few years and has now become an essential part of modern urban mobility, offering an alternative to private and public transport.

The experts at BikeBoom take you inside the world of bike sharing: how it works, how popular it is in Italy and how you could open a bike sharing business in your city.

What bike sharing means

Literally, bike sharing means “sharing bikes”. Of course, the concept can be extended to all vehicles, so much so that car sharing is also becoming a trend today.
But the bike is a green, sustainable means of transport.

Above all, it is electric micromobility that is revolutionising the way people get around cities, in a green and fun way, with e-bikes, e-kick scooters and e-mopeds.

The concept of bike sharing is therefore based on sharing bikes as a form of public transport. Users can take bikes or other electric vehicles for short trips and then leave them near their destination, at dedicated stations or in free-floating mode (concepts we’ll look at in more detail below).

To use bike sharing, users first need to register with the service, usually through an app. Once registered, they can locate the nearest vehicles (fitted with GPS) and unlock a bike using a QR code or an electronic key provided by the app.
Sharing apps also offer extra features such as promotions, notifications and customer support.

You only pay for the time you actually use the vehicle, which makes it an option that’s accessible to everyone.
This system promotes sustainable mobility, reduces air pollution and eases traffic congestion in crowded urban areas. But it is also a business opportunity for anyone who wants to invest in a profitable sector.

How many people use bike sharing in Italy?

The 2023 report by the National Sharing Mobility Observatory tells us that sharing is increasingly popular in Italy:

“The total number of rentals in vehicle sharing grew by 41% compared with 2021, for a total of around 49 million trips, while the number of kilometres travelled by Italians on shared vehicles is close to 200 million.”

And more specifically:

“As regards micromobility, the number of trips made using bike sharing, moped sharing and e-scooter sharing services in 2022 exceeded 43 million, equal to 87% of total vehicle sharing, for a total of 112 million km travelled, i.e. 57% of total distance travelled.
Rental figures for the individual services all grew compared with 2021, ranging from +108% for free-floating bike sharing to +42% for moped sharing, with e-scooters and station-based bike sharing recording +39% and +24% respectively. (…)
No less significant is the fleet figure, where micromobility accounts for 95% of the total, i.e. 107 thousand light, compact electric vehicles that let people move faster through growing urban traffic and contribute to greater sustainability.”

The difference between station-based and free-floating bike sharing

But how many models of electric vehicle sharing service are there? Essentially two: station-based and free-floating bike sharing.

Station-based bike sharing

In the station-based model, bikes must be picked up and returned at designated fixed stations around the city;

Free-floating bike sharing

In the free-floating model, by contrast, bikes can be picked up and left anywhere within a designated service area, giving users more flexibility.

Also, some services may hold a municipal licence, while others are run exclusively by private operators. As we explain in a previous article on our blog:

“To open a free-floating sharing service on public land, you need a specific municipal licence. Otherwise, you can choose a station-based solution on private land, or on public land with the specific authorisation from the Municipality.”

If you are interested in starting your own sharing business, also read “How to start your own bike sharing service”.

Find the BikeBoom sharing service nearest to you

BikeBoom sharing points can be found all over Italy, especially in big cities and tourist destinations.
All our vehicles are safe, modern and fitted with GPS. By downloading the BikeBoom sharing app, you can unlock vehicles in just a few clicks and get exclusive discounts and promotions.

Can’t wait to discover a new, more fun and sustainable way to get around?

Open the map now and find the BikeBoom Points nearest to you

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