Action plans on the reduction of mobility energy consumption based on personal mobility activation

Abstract

Personal Mobility (PM) has attracted considerable attentions as an eco-friendly mode of transportation. In Seoul, the PM penetration rate has grown by 30% annually, and the number of PM companies has been increasing. However, there is a high risk of collision against a pedestrian while riding PM vehicles on sidewalks. To create a safer operation environment, studies on the effect of PM-only lane and ways to create PM playgrounds have been conducted. A design involving a PM-only lane was presented and evaluated using the traditional travel demand modeling framework. If the PM-only lane is to be implemented, a significant number of vehicles would be converted for public transportation, and vehicle kilometers traveled would be substantially decreased. Reducing the use of automobiles is expected to contribute to environmental benefits. Moreover, by creating a PM-based playground, it can promote a safer driving environment through driving education for beginners, and data collection related to PM driving. If PM-only lane and PM-based playgrounds positively affect the deployment of PM, they could lead to the activation of public transportation uses. Environmental benefits calculated on these action plans show its effectiveness of reduction of mobility energy consumption while ensuring safety and convenience.