A lack of enthusiasm for Brisbane's CityCycle program is due to fears that cycling is dangerous, infrastructure isn't adequate and that signing up is too tedious, a PhD researcher has found.

Queensland University of Technology's Dr Elliot Fishman said the usage of Brisbane's bikeshare program was the lowest of all comparable schemes in the world.

CityCycle bikes in the Brisbane CBD. Credit:Harrison Saragossi

The CityCycle program began in 2010 and runs at a loss of more than $1 million a year. On average its bikes are only used two out of every five days.

In contrast, Dr Fishman's figures from 2013 showed bikes in leading cities like Paris, Barcelona and Lyon are used seven times a day during summer. He said Washington was comparable to Brisbane, and during summer months their bicyles made an average of five trips a day.