Jane Lin | University of Illinois Chicago

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Presentation Description

The utilization of shared electric micromobility, such as electric bikes (e-bikes), has surged in popularity as a viable alternative mode of transportation, particularly in urban settings grappling with traffic congestion and air pollution concerns. Although the benefits of shared e-bikes are well-known, their environmental impact has been a topic of debate. Some studies claim shared e-bikes have positive environmental impacts, while others conclude the opposite or show mixed results. In particular, emissions associated with the production phase of shared e-bikes were found to be influenced by factors such as fleet size, service duration, and utilization rates within the shared bike system. In light of these findings, this study endeavors to evaluate the potential reductions in the total gasoline and diesel oil consumption and CO2 and NOx emissions facilitated by the adoption of shared e-bikes within Chicago. Data on a total of 2.8 million e-bike trips in 2023 are analyzed. In this context, it was assumed that if e-bikes were not available, trips would have to be made by other means of transport based on a mode utility derived from the Chicago Metropolitan travel survey. The energy consumption and emissions of CO2 and NOx associated with these alternative modes were analyzed based on ride distances. Results reveal substantial energy savings of approximately 945 tons of oil equivalent (toe), accompanied by reductions of roughly 4,234 tons of CO2 and 10 kg of NOx, highlighting the significant environmental benefits of e-bikes. Notably, these benefits are most pronounced during peak traffic hours, particularly during the evening rush at 5 pm. Furthermore, the study explores the influence of the built environment and socioeconomic factors on total energy savings and emissions reductions achieved through e-bikes, employing machine learning techniques such as XGBoost and SHAP values. The findings indicate that variables such as employment density, job accessibility, walkability index, population density, and percentage of zero-car households positively impact the environmental benefits of e-bikes. These findings can help policymakers enhance the environmental benefits of e-bike adoption while mitigating the environmental impacts associated with conventional modes of transport.

Speaker Biography

Dr. Jane Lin is Professor of Civil Engineering at UIC and holds a joint appointment with the Institute for Environmental Science and Policy (IESP). Dr. Lin's research is focused on sustainable transportation systems modeling and design with a focus on sustainable transportation systems analysis, modeling, and design, including mobile source emissions and air pollution mitigation, and near-road health exposure, green freight transportation and urban logistics design and strategies, public transport service, and new mobility service enabled by information technology.

Co-presenters

Maryam Yousefibaseri
University of Illinois Chicago

Farid Peiravian
University of Illinois Chicago

Jane Lin
University of Illinois

Abolfazl (Kouros) Mohammadian
university of Illinois Chicago

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