Life cycle carbon dioxide emissions of bike sharing in China: Production, operation, and recycling

•This paper provides a basis for capacity management and operation management of shared bikes from the perspective of environment.•Based on whole life cycle accounting method, carbon emissions of each stage of production, use, and disposal are calculated.•In the disposal process, the possibility of reducing carbon emissions by different bikes disposal methods is discussed in detail.•In China, carbon emissions generated from solid waste disposal by landfilling are significantly higher than those from incineration power.