Riding Through Change: Gender-Specific Trends in Bike Share Pre- and Post-COVID-19

Keywords: bike sharing, New York City, Gender
Abstract Type: Paper Abstract

Abstract

Bike-sharing has become a popular urban transportation mode due to its convenience, eco-friendliness, and affordability, offering a key option for short-distance travel. During the COVID-19 pandemic, bike-sharing usage surged as lockdowns and health concerns over public transit prompted people to seek safer, independent travel alternatives. While prior research has explored the pandemic's impact on ridership and mobility patterns, gender differences in bike-sharing behavior remain underexplored. This study examines gender-specific trends in bike-sharing in New York City before and during the pandemic, focusing on changes in usage frequency, trip duration, motivations, and purposes. It also explores age-based differences and the influence of safety and social factors on gendered travel choices. Data visualization highlights key metrics such as daily trip counts and station usage patterns, while linear regression identifies changes in influencing factors. ARIMA-LSTM models predict future trends in gendered bike-sharing behavior. The findings reveal how the pandemic reshaped travel behaviors for men and women, offering insights to optimize bike-sharing services and public policies. This research contributes to a better understanding of pandemic-driven lifestyle changes and supports targeted strategies to enhance user satisfaction, equity, and sustainable urban mobility.