# COVID-19's Pandemic Effects on Bike Sharing Systems: A New Reality for Urban Mobility?
## 1 Introduction  
The first case of COVID-19 in Greece was recorded on 26 February 2020. From that day and in less than a month, the Greek government began the implementation of restrictions which led to a general quarantine lockdown, affecting people's mobility, thus creating a new reality for urban mobility (modal shift, mobility restrictions, etc.). It is rather clear that COVID-19 has affected, and continues to affect, people's transport mode choice. According to surveys _\"consumers are already showing an increased cautiousness about health, meaning that safety is likely to be a more important factor for consumers when deciding if, how and when to move\"_[1]. Three major European cities during the first months of the pandemic announced measures that allowed bikers and pedestrians to comply with social requirements. Specifically, according to the press, authorities in Milan, Italy, decided to reallocate street space from private cars to cycling and walking, in response to COVID-19. Over 35 km of streets were to be transformed over the summer of 2020, through a rapid experimental citywide expansion of cycling and walking space in order to protect residents. The Strade Aperte plan states: _\"included low-cost temporary cycle lanes, new and widened pavements, 30 kph speed limits and pedestrian and cyclist priority streets\"_[2]. Another European city adopting measures aiming to promote cycling and walking is Paris, France. According to the press, an investment of over 300 million EUR is underway in the Ile-de-France area for the construction of an extensive network of separatedbroad cycle paths and highways. The local authorities highlighted the fact that cycling is one of those transport means that allows users to maintain necessary and appropriate social distancing and therefore should be supported in order to play its role, not only during the COVID-19 crisis but also after its end [3]. In addition, the World Health Organization has urged cities to make full use of cycling and walking. Specifically, on a brochure published by the WHO entitled \"Moving around during the COVID-19 outbreak\", it is mentioned that whenever feasible, cycling and walking should be selected since they provide physical distancing while helping people meet the minimum requirement for daily physical activity [4]. Finally, authorities in the city of Brussels, Belgium, decided that the area of Pentagon (city center), the district within the Kleine Ring, will become a residential area at least during the COVID-19 crisis. The measure endured for 3 months, from 11 May 2020, and during that period (a) pedestrians were allowed to use the full width of the public road and not only the pedestrian paths but (b) vehicles were also allowed inside that area with a maximum speed of 20 km/h to ensure pedestrians' priority and cyclists' safety and (c) existing pedestrian zones retained their status [5]. Another press release regarding the performance of bike-sharing systems in the United States of America during the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic, highlights the fact that the bike-sharing systems in Boston, Chicago, and New York (all administrated by the same company) were free for healthcare or public transportation workers and first responders. Moreover, the bike-sharing system in Washington D.C. was free of charge to essential workers while the respective system in Minnesota was free for healthcare workers. The Houston bike-sharing system saw increased usage, even after COVID-19 precautions closed some stations to prevent gatherings in parks. Many systems--including Kansas City, Detroit, and Memphis--were temporarily offering unlimited free rides for all users. Another aspect of the COVID-19 pandemic effects on the bike-sharing systems in the United States concerns the fact that \"_some systems had developed partnerships with local restaurants, allowing them to use their bikes for food delivery. Of the more than 189 cities with bike sharing systems in the U.S., only a few had shut down during the time of the pandemic_\".