PATTERNS OF USE OF A BIKE-SHARING SYSTEM IN A RURAL COASTAL TOWN: THE CASE OF VAIBIKE

In some European cities, the urban environment has been analyzed to increase mobility options, encourage the practice of physical activity (PA), improve the air and reduce traffic congestion through a Bicycle-Sharing System (BSS). A quantitative and longitudinal study has been designed with the collection and analysis of data from the BSS of Vilagarcia de Arousa (Galicia, northwestern Spain). The number of uses of the VaiBike bicycle system was counted daily and a total of 59,998 observations were recorded (Men n=42,411; Women n=17,587). Men ages 65 to 79 logged an average of more than 50 minutes on all days of the week. On the other hand, the difference in use between weekdays and weekends has been much greater for women, especially on Sundays, exceeding 40 minutes of average use in all age groups. It is concluded that the WHO recommendations for PA and health could be met, since the minutes of renting the bicycles in the system are greater than 30 minutes on average. Men have more registration in the system and more average use than women, especially the age group of 65 to 79 years old, which stays above 50 minutes every day of the week and in all seasons of the year. In women, the values are around half an hour every day of the week and rise to more than 40 on Sunday. These results can be useful for health professionals and public administrations, since they will know the profile of bicycle users and their patterns of use in order to improve the urban environment to encourage the practice of PA.