The Mineta Transportation Institute at San Jose State University has released a report evaluating public bikesharing in North America. It reviews the change in travel behavior exhibited by members of different programs in the context of their business models and operational environment.

This study is Phase II of a project to examine IT-based bikesharing programs in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.  For Phase I of the study (published in 2012), "Public Bikesharing in North America: Early Operator and User Understanding," researchers conducted interviews with 14 industry experts and public officials, as well as 19 managers and/or key staff of IT-based bikesharing organizations.

For Phase II, an additional 23 interviews were conducted with IT-based bikesharing organizations across North America in spring 2013. Notable developments during this period include the ongoing rapid expansion of public bikesharing in North America, including the recent launches of large bikesharing programs in the U.S. (including Citi Bike in New York City, Divvy in Chicago, and Bay Area Bike Share in the San Francisco Bay Area).

In addition to new interviews with experts, the authors conducted two kinds of surveys with bikesharing users. The on-line member survey was sent primarily to annual members of the bikesharing systems in Montreal, Toronto, Salt Lake City, Minneapolis-Saint Paul, and Mexico City. The second survey was an on-street, smartphone-based survey designed for anyone, including casual users (i.e., those who are not members of the system and use it on a short-term basis).  This survey was implemented in Boston, Salt Lake City, and San Antonio.

In addition to new interviews with experts, the authors conducted two kinds of surveys with bikesharing users.  One was the online member survey. This survey was sent to all people for whom the operator had an email address – mainly annual members of the bikesharing system. The second survey was an on-street survey. This survey was designed for anyone, including casual users (i.e., those who are not members of the system and use it on a short-term basis).  The survey was taken "on-street" with a smartphone. The member survey was deployed in five cities: Montreal, Toronto, Salt Lake City, Minneapolis-Saint Paul, and Mexico City. The on-street survey was implemented in three cities: Boston, Salt Lake City, and San Antonio.