Journal of Transport and Land Use

How to promote the combined use of metro and shared bicycles under different land-use patterns around metro stations: A case study of Shanghai

Yantang Zhang

Heilongjiang University

Xiaowei Hu

Harbin Institute of Technology

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5198/jtlu.2026.2859

Keywords: Dockless bike-sharing, Combined usage, Built environment, Land-use patterns, Nonlinear relationship, Machine learning

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Abstract

The combined use of metro and dockless bike-sharing (M-DBS) is an emerging strategy for improving public-transport efficiency and tackling first-/last-mile gaps, and it is essential for sustainable urban mobility. However, existing studies often overlook land-use pattern heterogeneity and the nonlinear impacts of the built environment on M-DBS use. This study, using Shanghai as a case, employs K-Means clustering to identify four land-use patterns around metro stations—low-density, mixed-use, transit hub, and commercial core—and applies the XGBoost algorithm to model the nonlinear relationship between the built environment and M-DBS use across these patterns. We find that the built environment factors influencing M-DBS use vary by land-use pattern. In particularly, bus accessibility, population density, the proportion of shopping facilities, and subway accessibility play key roles in the four land-use patterns, respectively. Furthermore, the relationship between built environment variables and M-DBS use is nonlinear, with varying thresholds and even reversed correlations in different patterns. For example, in the transit hub pattern, M-DBS use negatively correlates with the proportion of dining facilities, while in the commercial core pattern, the correlation is positive. This study also reaffirms the differing impacts of the built environment on the two feeder modes of M-DBS use. Based on these findings, we provide strategic recommendations to optimize the integration of dockless bike-sharing and metro systems, improving public transportation efficiency and supporting sustainable urban development.

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