Considering the Potential Health Impacts of Electric Scooters: An Analysis of User Reported Behaviors in Provo, Utah.

Jeffrey Glenn,Madeline Bluth,Mannon Christianson,Gregory S. Macfarlane,Jaymie Pressley,Robert A. Chaney,Austin Taylor

doi:10.3390/ijerph17176344

Abstract

Electric scooters (e-scooters) are an increasingly popular form of transportation in urban areas. While research on this topic has focused primarily on injuries, there are multiple mechanisms by which e-scooter share programs may impact health. The aim of this study is to explore the health-related behaviors of e-scooter users and to discuss their implications for public health. Data were collected using an online survey emailed to registered e-scooter users. A total of 1070 users completed the survey. Descriptive variable statistics and chi-squared analysis were performed to determine variable dependent relationships and equality of proportions. The most common destinations reported were “just riding around for fun”, home, and dining/shopping. The two most common modes of transportation that would have been used if e-scooters were not available were walking (43.5%) and using a personal vehicle (28.5%). Riding behavior was equally mixed between on the street, on the sidewalk, and equal amounts of both. e-Scooters in Provo are likely having both positive (e.g., air pollution) and negative impacts on health (e.g., injuries, physical inactivity). Future research should further explore patterns of e-scooter use and explicitly examine the linkages between e-scooters and areas of health beyond just injuries.

Highlights

There is growing awareness in academic and policy circles of the close linkages between health and urban transportation practices [1]
Research on the health impacts of e-scooters is sparse, the topic merits further exploration given the rapid increase in e-scooter popularity over the past three years in the United States and around the world [5,6,7,8]
The potential health impacts of e-scooters depend on answers to questions related to user behaviors—e.g., substituting other forms of transit, commuting vs. recreational use, compliance with safety regulations

Summary

Introduction

There is growing awareness in academic and policy circles of the close linkages between health and urban transportation practices [1]. Stand-up electric scooters (e-scooters), two-wheeled vehicles with a small electric motor and a thin deck on which a single rider stands, are a relatively new micro-mobility option for urban areas and have the potential for both positive and negative health impacts [2,3,4]. Gaining a better understanding of the true positive and negative health impacts of e-scooters must start with more fully understanding e-scooter users and patterns of use [9]. The potential health impacts of e-scooters depend on answers to questions related to user behaviors—e.g., substituting other forms of transit, commuting vs recreational use, compliance with safety regulations. While some information exists to help answer these and other key questions, important knowledge gaps remain

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