A comprehensive study of public bicycle sharing system in Ahmedabad through factor, path, and cluster analysis

The present study evaluates the Public Bicycle Sharing System (PBSS) in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, focusing on key factors influencing its success and user satisfaction. Using analytical methodologies such as Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA), Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), and K-Means Clustering, the research identifies latent variables affecting PBSS effectiveness. EFA uncovered four significant factors that explain 78% of the variance in user perceptions, including cycling infrastructure, safety, and environmental quality. SEM results confirmed the strong, statistically significant relationships between these latent variables and user satisfaction. K-Means clustering analysis identified four distinct user groups, each with unique needs and perceptions, ranging from highly satisfied respondents to those critical of current cycling conditions. The clusters demonstrated significant variability, as reflected in the ANOVA results, highlighting the differing infrastructure and safety needs across user groups. The fit indices for SEM, including RMSEA (0.04) and CFI (0.937), indicate a strong model fit, ensuring the reliability of findings. The study concludes that targeted improvements in infrastructure, safety, and environmental conditions can significantly enhance the adoption of PBSS, ultimately contributing to sustainable urban mobility. Future research could expand to similar urban contexts to validate and generalize these findings for broader application across cities.