Service Network Design as a Logistical Challenge in the Reliable Provision of Service in Bike Sharing Systems

Abstract

While the usage of SMS is often simple, inexpensive, and convenient from a user’s point of view, the design, management and operation of SMS from an operator’s point of view remain even more challenging. In particular, BSS stands out due to highly dynamic mobility behavior of users that has to be anticipated at all levels of planning. On the one hand side, trips follow typical mobility patterns in the course of the day and week caused by, e.g., commuter, leisure, or tourist activities. On the other hand side, demand for trips is distorted by events, e.g., failure of bike stations, traffic jams or sport events, and weather effects such as seasonal temperature and sudden rain.