The Tomorrow.Mobility 2024 congress was the backdrop to an interesting talk by Júlia Farré, Head of Business Development at Moventis, in which she explored how to optimise the combination of bicycles and buses on public transport networks. Entitled Optimizing Bicycle-Bus Combination in Public Transport Networks, Júlia Farré reviewed the history and evolution of both modes of transport, highlighting the benefits and challenges of combining them to maximise efficiency in the system.

Bus transport has a long history that dates back to the 1820s when the first organised networks began to emerge in England and France. It should be remembered that Moventis began operating in this field in 1923 with an urban bus line in Sabadell. Meanwhile, shared bicycle systems formally emerged in the 2000s, although experiments in the field were being conducted much earlier (since the 1960s). In this regard, Moventis positioned itself as a pioneer in the sector in 2015 when it launched the shared bicycle system in Helsinki with 500 units.

Júlia Farré wanted to underline the impact of shared bicycle services on bus networks by saying that, although they solve such problems as those of first and last mile access (especially in intercity areas), they can also compete with buses on short and medium distances. This phenomenon could be disruptive, but a correct combination of the two systems can transform that competition into complementarity, thereby maximising the total number of users and reducing operating costs.

With that in mind, the speaker highlighted the fundamental role of Public Transport Authorities (PTAs), which need to define a clear multimodal vision and foster cooperation between operators so as to achieve sustainability and efficiency targets. She also underlined the need for multimodal contracts with public transport operators (PTOs) that can streamline combined networks, as demonstrated by Moventis in various French cities.

Niort is a relevant example in this regard. With 125,000 inhabitants, it has set up a network of 12 urban lines, 7 intercity lines, school and reduced mobility services, 150 shared bicycles and 1,200 long-term rental bicycles; all under a single contract. In turn, over in Montbéliard (an extensive area of 140,000 inhabitants), Moventis has been managing a network since 2017 that includes urban lines, BRT buses and a system of 120 rental bicycles. Here, the integrated network includes unified fares, discounts for users of both systems and options for taking bicycles on buses.

In Clermont-Ferrand, the combination of direct bus management and bicycle outsourcing reveals another alternative. Via its subsidiary, Inurba Mobility, Moventis operates 680 shared bicycles and 1,200 rental bicycles while the bus system is managed by T2C. The C-Vélo system has achieved a significant increase in users while a MaaS (Mobility as a Service) model has subsequently integrated both modes of transport into a single data platform.

Júlia Farré concluded her talk by emphasising that the ideal cooperation between PTAs and PTOs requires integrated contracts, unified fare systems and operational synergies; all aimed at maximising user engagement, reducing costs and simplifying management. Bicycle-bus integration not only improves mobility in cities but also boosts the commitment to sustainability and operational efficiency.