Complement or compete? The effects of shared electric scooters on bus ridership. (December 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ziedan, Abubakr; Shah, Nitesh R.; Wen, Yi; Brakewood, Candace; Cherry, Christopher R.; Cole, Justin
• Is Part Of: Transportation research. Volume 101(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-12
• Subjects: Shared Electric Scooters -- Bus Ridership -- Micromobility -- E-scooter -- Transit; Transportation -- Research -- Periodicals; Transportation -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; 354.76
• DOI: 10.1016/j.trd.2021.103098
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1361-9209

Abstract

Highlights: This analysis quantified the impact of shared e-scooters on bus ridership. Fixed effects regression techniques were used. The impacts of shared e-scooters on ridership were differentiated by trip purpose. The results suggest that shared e-scooters both compete and complement transit. The findings suggest a net reduction of 0.08% on bus ridership on a typical weekday. Abstract: The rapid onset of shared electric scooters (e-scooters) has raised questions about their effects on other transportation modes, particularly sustainable modes such as transit. Existing literature concerning the impacts of e-scooters on transit ridership showed that e-scooters could both compete or complement transit. However, prior studies did not differentiate by e-scooter trip purpose. This study aims to fill this gap using Nashville, Tennessee, as a case study. The results of modeling more than 1.4 million e-scooter trips suggest that on a typical weekday, utilitarian e-scooter trips are associated with a 0.94% decrease in bus ridership. However, social e-scooter trips are associated with weekday bus ridership increases of 0.86%. The net effect of e-scooters on weekday bus ridership is estimated to be −0.08%, which is nearly zero. These findings can help inform city planners as they integrate micromobility into urban transportation systems.