###### Abstract  
Bike-sharing initiatives play a crucial role in sustainable urban transportation, addressing vehicular congestion, air quality issues, and sedentary lifestyles. However, the connection between bike-sharing facilities and the advantages perceived by users remains insufficiently explored particular in post-industrial regions, such as Silesia, Poland. This study develops a multidimensional framework linking infrastructure elements--such as station density, bicycle accessibility, maintenance standards, and technological integration--to perceived benefits. Using a mixed-methods approach, a survey conducted in key Silesian cities combines quantitative analysis (descriptive statistics, factor analysis, and regression modelling) with qualitative insights from user feedback. The results indicate that the most valuable benefits are health improvements (e.g., improved physical fitness and mobility) and environmental sustainability. However, infrastructural deficiencies--disjointed bike path systems, uneven station placements, and irregular maintenance--substantially hinder system efficiency and accessibility. Inadequate bike maintenance adversely affects efficiency, safety, and sustainability, highlighting the necessity for predictive upkeep and optimised services. This research underscores innovation as a crucial factor for enhancing systems, promoting seamless integration across multiple modes, diversification of fleets (including e-bikes and cargo bikes), and the use of sophisticated digital solutions like real-time tracking, contactless payment systems, and IoT-based monitoring. Furthermore, the transformation of post-industrial areas into cycling-supportive environments presents strategic opportunities for sustainable regional revitalisation. These findings extend beyond the context of Silesia, offering actionable insights for policymakers, urban mobility planners, and Smart City stakeholders worldwide, aiming to foster inclusive, efficient, and technology-enabled bike-sharing systems. Bike-sharing systems; urban mobility; innovation; infrastructure management; sustainable mobility; post-industrial regions +
Footnote †: journal:  
0000-0001-6000-0000-0000-0000-0000-00000-00000-00000-00000-000000-000000-0000000-0  
Under the umbrella of shared mobility services, bike-sharing systems represent one of the earliest, most environmentally friendly, health-promoting, cost-effective, and widely accessible solutions. These systems offer a viable alternative to traditional modes of transport, particularly in densely populated areas [2]. By reducing dependency on private vehicles and alleviating congestion, bike-sharing has emerged as a transformative force in reimagining urban landscapes. Since the emergence of bike-sharing programmes in the late twentieth century [3], they have evolved from small-scale, community-driven initiatives into integral components of urban transportation strategies across the globe. Early efforts, such as Copenhagen's Bycyklen [4], laid the groundwork for the development of more advanced systems that integrate digital technologies and real-time user data. Contemporary systems are digitally oriented and operate through platform-based models, offering users 24/7 access to bicycles. Bike-sharing services utilising mobile applications for rentals now operate in over 50 countries worldwide [5], encompassing both locally managed initiatives in smaller municipalities and large-scale infrastructures in metropolitan areas, such as Beijing, New York, and Paris [6; 7; 8]. Collectively, these systems facilitate hundreds of millions of journeys each year, highlighting their significance as a sustainable and accessible mode of transportation. The widespread adoption of bike-sharing programmes highlights their ability to address important issues that confront contemporary urban areas. These systems aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and traffic congestion by promoting a transition away from individual motorisation, while also improving public health through active transportation [9].