Barriers to bicycle sharing systems implementation: analysis of two unsuccessful PSS

Bicycle sharing systems (BSS) arise as a proposal to respond to the challenges of urban mobility as a healthy, efficient, and relatively inexpensive mean of transportation. Although these systems are widespread, BSS still present challenges for implementation. In this context, this paper aims to identify the barriers to implementation of this kind of product-service systems (PSS) and to analyze which ones most impacted the failure of two BSS. The main results demonstrate that resistance to change both by users and those involved with the project hinders BSS implementation. Besides involving several actors, the system needs an adequate projection of the demand and costs. Some alternatives are: the integration of stakeholders in the development of the solution and the promotion of policies for the diffusion of sharing systems and education to conscious consumption. The results could be used in future PSS implementations to support overcoming the barriers.