Changes in Shared Bicycle Usage by COVID-19

The Seoul Metropolitan Government is promoting and implementing eco-friendly transportation policies covering the revitalization of public transportation, establishment of green transportation promotion areas, and the expansion of shared-bicycle use. With the prevalence of the COVID-19 pandemic, cities worldwide have been paralyzed by lockdowns, the strict implementation of social-distancing policies, and the shutdown of different industry sectors. People's movement and traffic volume have decreased significantly. The pandemic has forced to people change their travel-related decision-making tendencies. Against this backdrop, this study analysed the changes in shared-bicycle traffic in Seoul during the pandemic. This study analyzed the relationship between social distancing levels and shared bicycle usage using regression analysis. This study conducted an analysis of spatially formed clusters through Moran's I test and hotspot analysis. The results indicate that an important correlation between the spread of COVID-19 and shared bicycle use has been found. When social distancing levels increased by one level, the number of shared bicycle rental per day increased by about 10,000 times. As a result of spatial analysis, changes in shared bicycle usage are spatially forming clusters, and Moran's I test showed statistically significant results with a p-value very close to zero. The study results indicate that under special circumstances, government policy plays an important role in promoting green transportation. The use of green transportation is directly related to falling atmospheric pollution in the city. Such transportation can significantly benefit the environment. The government can produce more effective results by considering local characteristics to revitalize eco-friendly transportation.