The goals of bus services can be split into patronage (regarding the number of people that actually use the service) and coverage (regarding the number of people that are able to use the service) goals. Current bus networks are designed primarily for the coverage goals, as a consequence the patronage is lacking resulting in only few bus services to be cost-efficient. Literature provides several practices for increasing the cost-efficiency, but the effects on the coverage function are often neglected. This report follows a design process for a Dutch case in order to find how the coverage can be enhanced by including several new practices from the beginning of a network design. New design tools were developed in order to compare four different network designs relying on various coverage practices. The results show that a two layered system consisting of a high quality service combined with a supporting service in the form of a regular and/or demand responsive service is the best approach. Within the existing cost constraints, it is possible to create a large high quality network that relies on bicycles as access mode. By including shared bicycles, the coverage function is ensured while increasing the cost-efficiency of the network by allowing for faster routing. As a result, 10 percent more trips were made per timetable hour and 3 percent more passenger kilometres were covered. Replacing regular fixed line services by demand responsive services resulting in only a marginal increase that was highly dependent on the costs not to turn out higher. In combination with bicycle sharing, the results turned out to be much more positive with an additional 11 percent increase. By using a two layered system a high quality service can be provided that also serves a large coverage function. Of the supporting services, the use of shared bicycles allow for opportunities to improve even further, especially when combined with demand responsive transport.

The 4th generation of bike-sharing, also known as dockless- and free-floating bike-sharing is a new type of bike-sharing system. It allows users to start and end their rentals anywhere in the service area. In the spring of 2018 Mobike started their services in the city of Delft. This research is set up around data collected in Delft about the usage of Mobike that contains almost 150.000 trips. A collaboration model between local government and bike-sharing operator is proposed that is based on trust and sharing data. An improved version of dockless bike-sharing based on virtual docking zones is presented that tries to maximize the benefits while minimizing the negative side effects.

The aim of this graduation project is to determine how Mobike can be successful in the Netherlands in the short-term and how Mobike can be successful in the long-term. To answer these questions, in this project research has been conducted on the users of Mobike. Next to that the environment of Mobike has been analyzed, after which a vision has been created about how free-floating bikesharing fits in the mobility of the future. With the analysis of the environment of Mobike and the user research, the short-term changes for Mobike have been determined: Improving the product on both physical and service level to ensure that Mobike will appeal better to the Dutch users, and increasing the number of cities in which Mobike will be available. Doing so will help Mobike to achieve critical mass. This critical mass is needed to grow fast and thus become successful in the short-term. Improving the product and service also ensures that Mobike can develop a strong brand image and that it is known for their reliable, always available means of urban transport. To become successful in the future, Mobike is in need of a better grasp of how mobility in the Netherlands will look like in the future and how free-floating bikesharing initiatives like Mobike fit into that future. Together with stakeholders of this future, a vision has been designed of how the customer journey of bikesharing will look like in the future. It also became clear that Mobility as a Service (MaaS) will be part of that future. To ensure that Mobike can benefit most of this MaaS development Mobike has to change its product, service, and business model. Although MaaS will be part of the future, by still offering free-floating means of urban transport through their own application, Mobike can ensure that it thrives best in the market of the future. Both the findings of how to be successful in the short-term and how to be successful in the long-term have been put in a Roadmap. By following the roadmap, Mobike ensures that it can successfully participate in the Dutch mobility of the future now and in the future.