Heat, Hills and the High Season: A Model-Based Comparative Analysis of Spatio-Temporal Factors Affecting Shared Bicycle Use in Three Southern European Islands

Bicycle sharing systems (BSSs) have been implemented in cities worldwide an attempt to promote cycling. Despite exhibiting characteristics considered be barriers cycling, such as hot summers, hilliness and car-oriented infrastructure, Southern European island tourist destinations Limassol (Cyprus), Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (Canary Islands, Spain) the Valletta conurbation (Malta) are all experiencing implementation of BSSs policies In this study, a year trip data secondary datasets used analyze dock-based BSS usage three case-study cities. How land use, socio-economic, network temporal factors influence use at station locations, both origin destination, was examined using bivariate correlation analysis through development linear mixed models for each case study. Bivariate correlations showed significant positive associations with number cafes restaurants, vicinity beach or promenade percentage foreign population locations A relation cycling infrastructure evident Canaria, but not Malta, no is present island’s conurbation, where primarily operational. Elevation had negative association seasonality weather patterns strongest, effect rainfall higher temperature were observed. Although there between visiting tourists predominantly explained multi-collinearity rather than by intensive tourists. The more fine-grained results differences stations, including destination. insights from can inform promoting support sustainable mobility similar characteristics.