Understanding micro-mobility usage patterns: a preliminary comparison between dockless bike sharing and e-scooters in the city of Turin (Italy)

Abstract

Urban areas around the world are experiencing a sharp growth of shared micro-mobility services mainly because of the introduction of shared dockless bikes and, more recently, of e-scooters. Besides understanding who uses these services and why, more studies are needed to understand when and where these services are used and whether their usage patterns differ. This study aims to expand the current state of knowledge about the usage of micro-mobility services by comparing the spatiotemporal usage patterns of a dockless bike sharing (BS) service and an e-scooter service both operating in the city of Turin (Italy). Both visual and statistical approaches are used to analyze and contrast the temporal usage patterns of such services. Usage hotspots are detected by using spatial analysis and contextualized by considering the land use destination.Results indicate that both micro-mobility services are used to perform short trips, which are mainly occurring on weekdays in the afternoon. Usage peaks suggest that both services primarily fulfill the demand for non-commute related travel, in line with previous studies in other countries. Nevertheless, morning usage peaks of dockless BS service show that the service might also be used for commuting trips to and from university. Usage hotspot detected near to a university district only during weekdays supports this finding. On the other hand, e-scooter trips are mainly concentrated in the city center and in proximity of railway and metro stations, suggesting that, among other purposes, the service is used as a first and last-mile connection to public transport.