A total generalised cost assessment of e-scooter trips and their public transport competitiveness

Source abstract

ABSTRACT Shared e-scooters are one of the latest additions to transport networks in many countries, and their popularity is growing. Although e-scooters tend to replace walking trips, many studies find that they can also displace public transport, raising concerns that they could be reducing ridership and revenue for public transport providers. On the other hand, some studies find that shared e-scooters provide mobility at times and places where public transport services are poor or unavailable. Few studies have directly compared the two modes using e-scooter trip data. This study uses a total generalised cost approach to identify when and where the use of shared e-scooters is advantageous compared to public transport. Doing so helps to identify the spatial and temporal service gaps of public transport. The analysis makes use of shared e-scooter trips undertaken in Melbourne. Using this set of trips, we estimate the total generalised cost for each shared e-scooter trip and compare it to the TGC of the public transport alternative (if available). Results illustrate that shared e-scooters can offer a more competitive mode than public transport for non-radial trips, near entertainment sites and during late evenings.