Best Practices for the Public Management of Electric Scooters

Karl Reinhardt and Deakin, Elizabeth SM., J.D.

Institute of Transportation Studies, Research Reports, Working Papers, Proceedings from Institute of Transportation Studies, UC Berkeley

Abstract: This research projects evaluates the social, environmental, and safety impacts of shared electric scooters (e-scooters)’ through a literature review, a nationwide scan of state and local laws and regulations, and a case study of Oakland’s experience with e-scooters, including an analysis of the city’s user survey and our own in-depth interviews. E-scooters offer an enjoyable, low-cost travel option, but are used mainly by young, affluent, white males. To improve equity, cities are requiring e-scooter rental companies to serve low-income and minority communities and some further mandate that a share of the e-scooters accommodate people with disabilities. E-scooters are quiet and produce no tailpipe emissions, but their cumulative environmental impact depends on their manufacture, useful life, disposal, and use. In early applications, rental e-scooters survived less than a year. Some 30-50 percent of e-scooter trips replace short auto trips. Cities and states can improve e-scooter safety by encouraging helmet use, offering rider training, limiting speeds, improving pavements, managing parking, and calming traffic.

Keywords: Social and Behavioral Sciences; Scooters; electric vehicles; vehicle sharing; regulations; travel behavior; traffic safety; equity; environmental impacts (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020-10-01
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-ene, nep-env, nep-ppm and nep-tre
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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