Enhancing Urban Sustainability through Alternative Transport Initiatives: An Interim Evaluation of Bike-Sharing Pilot Project Initiative in Tehran

With respect to the urban sustainable development ideal، during the last decades، implementation of the bike-sharing projects has attracted the attention of the planners of different cities including Tehran. Since the first bike-sharing projects were not successful، evaluating/assessing new tentative preparation at different stages is required. This article examines the short-term achievements and challenges of the bike-sharing pilot project implemented during the last two years in Tehran Municipality’s Region VIII. A set of indicators including access، awareness، safety، commuting effects، beneficiary satisfaction، sustainability، and cultural advocacy were probed through field observations، information obtained from key stakeholders، and a quantitative survey of direct beneficiaries (a sample of 250 among ~8000 registered beneficiaries). Our findings indicated that the project has been successful in attracting and satisfying (male) users. Meanwhile، a number of shortcomings with regard to information dissemination، traffic signals، and maintaining the quality of bicycles and bike paths as well as cultural advocacy (particularly to include women) still need to be addressed. Furthermore، project sustainability hinges upon availability of funds for the maintenance and geographic expansion of facilities as well as periodic renewal of the fleet through secure budget allocations and sales of advertisement rights.