Does e-scooter ownership matter? A comparison of usage patterns and mode replacement effects of shared vs. privately owned e-scooters

Abstract

E-scooters have changed from being an urban novelty to becoming an established phenomenon. Parallel to this maturing process of the technology the literature on e-scooters has expanded rapidly, in particular related to the shared e-scooters. However, the literature on privately owned e-scooters is still relatively slim. Privately owned and shared e-scooters are accompanied by different advantages and disadvantages. While parking and littering problems cause considerable unrest and opposition against shared e-scooter schemes, these problems are virtually non-existent with privately owned e-scooters. However, and in contrast to privately owned e-scooters, shared e-scooters obey maximum speed, size and engine power legislation and other regulations that can be enforced with geofencing, like speed, parking, and zone restrictions. We find that privately owned e-scooters replace car trips to a much larger extent than the case with shared e-scooters, while shared e-scooters are more often used in conjunction with public transport. We also find there are differences in e-scooter ownership along the urban-rural axis. The relative share of privately owned e-scooters is increasing with distance from city centers.