Micromobility in tourist single- and multimodal travels at destination

Abstract

The study addresses the use of micromobility at tourist destinations depending on travel purpose (reaching the place of accommodation, reaching the transportation hub or station, sightseeing, and entertainment). The goal of this work is twofold. First, we check which variables impact the use of micromobility depending on the travel purpose. Second, we aim to learn whether micromobility could be used as a first/last leg of multimodal travel, potentially combining more traditional means of transport with novel solutions. We select three tourist destinations (Berlin, Barcelona, and Rome) with sufficiently developed micromobility travel options and adequate pro-micromobility policies. We estimate binary logit models separately for each travel purpose and city. The results indicate that habitual use of micromobility at the place of residence influences its use on holidays the most. Apart from that, there are only a few variables differentiating tourists' micromobility among cities. We confront the results with the Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans from these cities to assess the role of policies in encouraging tourists to use micromobility for single- and multimodal travel. Our research enhances understanding among policymakers and managers of the importance of incorporating micromobility in urban planning and business strategies.