Assessment of travel behavior related to e-scooters using a stated preference experiment

Abstract

Micromobility is an alternative that can contribute to the change of urban transportation. Although its emergence is often seen positive because it provides a sustainable way to commute for short trips, conditions for serious market penetration are not currently present. This study aims to support policymakers and service providers with evidence on individualś preferences towards e-scooters and its potential in five different locations (Copenhagen, Munich, Barcelona, Tel Aviv, Stockholm). The basis of the assessment was a Stated Preference (SP) experiment designed to extract individualś utility for e-scooters usage, supported by multinomial logit (MNL), mixed logit (ML) and nested logit (NL) models for the analysis process. The modeling was used to estimate unobserved attributes related to e-scooters, cost and time sensitivity, and the probability of its selection. The study was built on 790 completed responses that highlighted each location's preference towards e-scooters. Results show that there is a higher degree of expected e-scooters usage in Barcelona and Tel Aviv, while in Munich, Stockholm, and Copenhagen users showed less interest. If an increase in income occurred, e-scooters would be still preferred in Barcelona, while car would be more appealing in Munich. Overall, Munich, Tel Aviv, and Barcelona are more price-sensitive than Scandinavians, and all cities have low time sensitivity.