Can Bicycles Support Disaster Recovery? Modeling the Dynamics of Relief Distribution Using Micromobility

Can Bicycles Support Disaster Recovery? 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Modeling the Dynamics of Relief Distribution Using Micromobility Qianli Qiu, Chen Chen, Katherine Idziorek, Stephen D. Wong This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-6772158/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Published Journal Publication published 28 Jan, 2026 Read the published version in Scientific Reports → Version 1 posted 11 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Micromobility offers a potential pathway to strengthen urban disaster resilience by enabling the distribution of emergency supplies when infrastructure or transportation networks are compromised. This study examines the viability of micromobility vehicles for post-disaster relief via agent-based modeling and simulations in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Focusing on the early recovery phase with exclusive micromobility deployment, three operational variables are evaluated: deployment rate, load capacity, and per capita supply allocation. The analysis reveals that optimal efficiency occurs when 2% of the population participates in distribution efforts, each vehicle transports 18 kg loads, and deliverers provide 4 kilograms of supplies per community member per delivery. The results indicate that a relatively small but dedicated and efficient group of residents could achieve feasible recovery processes in a small city using solely micromobility. To better support communities, the research suggests that (1) micromobility be integrated into disaster relief plans and processes; (2) local cycling organizations be valued as key partners for disaster resource distribution; and (3) human-powered vehicles offer a flexible and nimble alternative for effective response in select situations. This research contributes to the emergency management literature by quantifying operational thresholds and demonstrating micromobility’s feasibility as a supplemental disaster response mechanism when conventional systems fail. Earth and environmental sciences/Natural hazards Physical sciences/Engineering/Civil engineering Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Supplementary Files MicromobilityABMSoutputSpreadsheet.zip Cite Share Download PDF Status: Published Journal Publication published 28 Jan, 2026 Read the published version in Scientific Reports → Version 1 posted Editorial decision: Revision requested 19 Aug, 2025 Reviews received at journal 01 Aug, 2025 Reviews received at journal 14 Jul, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 21 Jun, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 17 Jun, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 17 Jun, 2025 Reviewers invited by journal 16 Jun, 2025 Editor assigned by journal 16 Jun, 2025 Editor invited by journal 11 Jun, 2025 Submission checks completed at journal 03 Jun, 2025 First submitted to journal 03 Jun, 2025 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. 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