This　paper　took　the　public　bicycle　system　of　Beijing　as　the　example　to　study　the　travel　characteristics　of　public　bicycles.　The　results　may　provide　reference　to　the　development　of　public　bicycle　systems.　First,　this　paper　collected　and　analyzed　the　data　from　public　bicycle　users＇IC　card　records　and　a　questionnaire　survey.　Second,　the　distribution　and　the　operation　characteristics　of　rental　stations　were　studied　based　on　the　data.　Third,　it　studied　the　travel　characteristics　of　public　bicycles　and　summarized　the　travel　purpose,　cycling　mode　and　alternative　travel　mode.　Fourth,　the　travel　distance　and　the　walking　distance　were　analyzed　in　order　to　provide　the　decision　support　for　the　construction　of　rental　stations.　Finally,　this　paper　analyzed　the　satisfaction　of　the　public　bicycle　system　and　summarized　the　problems　of　the　public　bicycle　system　with　corresponding　improvement　suggestions.　©　2014　American　Society　of　Civil　Engineers.