E-Scooters Unlikely to Be Strong Factor in Reducing Automobile Use, Finds German Survey.

E-Scooters Unlikely to Be Strong Factor in Reducing Automobile Use, Finds German Survey, but consumers reported other benefits.

A recent study found that fewer than 1 in 10 e-scooter trips replaced automobile journeys

Date Posted

02/23/2021

Nationwide, Germany

Nationwide,

Germany

Identifier

2021-B01531

Consumer acceptance of shared e-scooters for urban and short-distance mobility

Summary Information

E-scooters have emerged as a mobility solution for travelers in many urban areas. However, there is some controversy over whether they represent an eco-friendly mode for congested cities or instead contribute to the hazards faced by pedestrians. A recent paper by researchers at the University of Bayreuth conducted a survey of German consumers to capture the users' perspective.

The survey received 749 completed responses after being distributed online through German public transportation services and companies. The questions provided a seven-point Likert scale ranging from "completely disagree" to "completely agree" to capture respondent opinions.

Around 31 percent of respondents indicated that their most recent e-scooter trip replaced one they would have taken by walking, while 8 percent said that it replaced one that would have taken via car.
More than half of respondents who owned their own e-scooters indicated that they believed that scooters had the benefits of reducing parking usage, while forty percent believed it had positive environmental impacts.
Participants indicated a modest willingness to use e-scooters instead of cars for short-distance trips, but preferred automobiles for medium- or long-distance trips. The researchers noted that this was in line with the general perception that e-scooters largely replaced walking trips.