Publication Detail

Investigating Objective and Subjective Factors Influencing the Adoption, Frequency, and Characteristics of E-scooter Trips

UCD-ITS-RP-23-81

Working Paper

3 Revolutions Future Mobility Program

Suggested Citation:
Kothawala, Alimurtaza, Angela Haddad, Basar Ozbilen, Chandra R. Bhat, Giovanni Circella, Charalampos Saridakis, Zia Wadud, Yuanxuan Yang, Susan Grant-Muller, Sebastian Castellanos (2023) Investigating Objective and Subjective Factors Influencing the Adoption, Frequency, and Characteristics of E-scooter Trips. Institute of Transportation Studies, University of California, Davis, Working Paper UCD-ITS-RP-23-81

In this study, for the first time in the literature as far as we are aware, we model e-scooter use frequency and use purpose jointly, allowing for multiple use purposes. In doing so, we consider individual and household sociodemographics and psycho-social lifestyle considerations, as well as a residential location indicator. The analysis uses data collected through a survey of e-scooter users in Washington, DC, administered electronically between September 2021 and December 2022. The results from our analysis indicate that gender, income earnings, motorized vehicle availability in the household, a green lifestyle propensity, and a positive perception of e-scooters, in general, are the most important determinants of use frequency. Also, there are distinct demographic groupings between e-scooter use for hedonic (leisure and tourism-related) pursuits and utilitarian (shopping, work/appointments, and transit connections) pursuits. Implications of the results for policy framing and sustainability initiatives are discussed.

Key words: micromobility, e-scooters, travel behavior, market adoption, psycho-social latent constructs, GHDM model