{"id":15641,"date":"2024-05-08T16:50:29","date_gmt":"2024-05-08T15:50:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.systra.com\/uk\/?post_type=expert_insights&p=15641"},"modified":"2024-07-09T14:24:48","modified_gmt":"2024-07-09T13:24:48","slug":"sustainability-safety-and-e-scooters-building-the-evidence","status":"publish","type":"expert_insights","link":"https:\/\/www.systra.com\/uk\/expert_insights\/sustainability-safety-and-e-scooters-building-the-evidence\/","title":{"rendered":"Sustainability, safety, and e-scooters: Building the evidence"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

I\u2019ve recently returned from Italy and while the very small cars in Rome were familiar from previous pre-covid visits to Italian cities, it was interesting to observe the passage of time through the increase in the number of e-scooters zipping around the city and left undocked for hire on pavements.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Our work at SYSTRA helps to understand the delivery and impact of e-scooters as part of wider multi-modal transport systems, to inform government decision-making. As an advocate of active travel \u2013 with a walking distance a lot longer than the typical \u2013 I find the use of e-scooters both personally and professionally thought-provoking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A range of studies (for example the National evaluation of e-scooter trials report<\/a> \/ Transport and transport technology: public attitudes tracker<\/a> \/ National Travel Survey: 2022<\/a>) have shown that the most frequent e-scooter users are males between 18 and 35, commonly in full-time employment and white. Females tend to use e-scooters less frequently and less confidently. As an older female (and a clumsy one at that), I can relate \u2013 I can\u2019t see myself going much faster on a 2-wheeled e-scooter than simply swapping shoes for a pair of trainers, and I confess that without knowing much about them I\u2019d already marked them down as \u2018not-for-me.\u2019 It was therefore interesting to hear about trials of 3-wheeled scooters in Germany and the US showing greater usage amongst women and older individuals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Thinking about their environmental impact, users report a range of reasons for using e-scooters, which do include sustainability, but also flexibility, convenience, affordability, reliability, time savings, enjoyment, health reasons, low physical effort, and having a lack of alternative options. There is a range of evidence for e-scooters substituting or replacing different modes, including replacing motor vehicle journeys, and complementing access to public transport services. However, there are also sources of evidence that suggest e-scooters are replacing sustainable modes such as walking and public transport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Most of the e-scooter studies looking at travel related carbon emissions have seen a reduction, although estimates vary greatly depending on the assumptions used. E-scooters appear to be an eco-friendlier transportation choice than cars in urban areas where short-distance travel is frequent and the scooters are charged using renewable energy sources. A lot more research is needed to understand the contribution and environmental impact of e-scooters, considering battery technology and vehicle lifespan as well as trip substitution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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In short, we need a more structured and consistent approach to assessing the environmental impact of e-scooters before it\u2019s possible to assess their environmental impact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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So, what about the safety aspect? While there is a lack of causal evidence, increasing usage of e-scooters has coincided with increased accidence rates (although the accident rate per passenger km travelled is decreasing). In studies, users have highlighted a lack of suitable infrastructure, and there is evidence that areas with good infrastructure (such as cycle lanes) are associated with better safety and fewer accidents. There is evidence of a range of anti-social behaviour including pavement riding, poor parking, carrying passengers, not wearing a helmet, and drug\/alcohol riding (although of course, anti-social behaviour isn\u2019t limited to e-scooter users). It is perhaps unsurprising that surveys show that e-scooter users tend to feel a lot safer than non-users, who fear interaction with scooters on footways.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Unfortunately, as for their environmental impact, we don\u2019t currently have sufficient evidence to fully assess e-scooter safety. While there are many sources available for injury rates, mortality and accidents, there is a tendency for accidents to be under-reported and near misses not being recorded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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I don\u2019t think we\u2019re able to answer either question yet – do e-scooters have a positive environmental impact? or; are e-scooters safe? In the UK it\u2019s still only legal to use rental e-scooters on public roads (excluding motorways) and in cycle lanes in the 22 areas where the government is running live trials, in acknowledgment that more evidence is required.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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I\u2019m certainly not the best case-study as an individual. I will always choose cycle or train over car for my commute, and I\u2019m so used to walking that for me, journeys between train stations and destinations don\u2019t need an e-scooter. However, I do recognise their appeal, and a multi-modal approach to transport generally makes getting around cheaper, easier, and more sustainable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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As our research on e-scooters (and e-bike hire mode share) continues, I will be keeping a close eye on how I see them being used while out and about. I look forward to seeing how SYSTRA\u2019s research, and other studies, helps shape the government\u2019s position on the future of e-scooters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Sustainability at SYSTRA<\/h3>\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tRead more\t\t\t\t\t sur Sustainability at SYSTRA<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/figcaption>\n\t\t<\/figure>\n\t<\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Sustainable Future<\/h3>\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tRead more\t\t\t\t\t sur Sustainable Future<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/figcaption>\n\t\t<\/figure>\n\t<\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Creating Places That Thrive<\/h3>\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tRead more\t\t\t\t\t sur Creating Places That Thrive<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/figcaption>\n\t\t<\/figure>\n\t<\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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