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With the rising need for affordable shared mobility in urban cities and university campuses, a variety of companies are offering shared dockless e-scooters as a new transportation mode in these areas to provide connectivity for the "last mile." The recent popularity experienced by shared mobility services is perhaps driven by advances in technology (mainly smartphones, positioning systems, and mobile payments), economic changes, and social and environmental concerns related to vehicle ownership and urban living. 1 It is hypothesized that travelers making trips between 0.5 and 2 miles (mi.) (0.8-3.2 kilometers [km]) will likely accrue the largest benefits from e-scooters.2 However, as this technology is introduced into the urban mobility ecosystem, it is critical for public agencies to understand the travel patterns and temporal usage to guide long-term planning and resource allocations.
Background
The urban transportation system is undergoing a rapid change with the introduction of dockless e-scooters in the micro-mobility sector. At least 10 companies now operate e-scooters across more than 100 cities.3 Bird, one of the first e-scooter companies that launched in 2017, was recently valued at more than $2 billion.4 Lime, another early entrant in this smart mobility sector, reported more than 26 million trips globally in 2018.5 In recent months, several other transportation providers have also entered this market.6-9 A recent study found that the majority of people across urban areas (70 percent) view electric scooters positively as they expand transportation options and provide a convenient replacement for short trips in a personal vehicle or ride-hailing services.10 Users gain the benefits of a private scooter without the costs and responsibilities of ownership, with the scooter operator usually providing maintenance and repairs.11 A recent study published in Journal of American Medical Association reported more electric scooter riders showed up with injuries in emergency rooms than bicyclists or pedestrians. The study also indicated that just 4.4 percent of the total 249 respondents used a helmet.12 Policymaking and law enforcement rules for scooter operations are also in a developmental stage. Regulations for personal transport devices, such as scooters, also vary across states and local jurisdictions.13 As these new services are introduced, it is necessary for agencies to understand their usage patterns for developing policies that integrate scooters with parking, pedestrians, bicyclists, and motor vehicles.
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