Dockless bikeshare, a mode of transportation that emerged in China only four years ago, needs to be regulated and integrated into urban mass transit systems rather than exist as a separate private entity to reach its potential, according to a new policy brief from the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP).

ITDP has outlined five key elements for a successful dockless bikeshare system, and has found that a number of cities have already embraced these best practices.

The policy brief and accompanying publicity materials identify five key components of any system: Five Ways to Win at Dockless Bikeshare. A growing number of cities have prospered by implementing these elements, while other cities have experienced more disruption than smooth travels due to minimal oversight of dockless bikeshare. For example, without clearly communicated guidelines on how best to park the bicycles, dockless bikes have raised ire for blocking rights of way and other public spaces.

The Bike-Share Planning Guide establishes many important metrics and principles for evaluating bike-share systems around the world. Although each city makes bike-share its own, adapting it to the local context, many of the most successful systems share certain common features.

The Guide provides important standards and insights into best practices for building bike-shares, and this infographic highlights five of the most important metrics and performance indicators for achieving a successful system.