Making Micromobilty Work: Exploring Public Opinion to Inform Policy, Infrastructure, Technology, and Sharing Services

In a few short years, micromobility has attracted intense interest from the public, policymakers, researchers, device manufacturers, mobility-as-a-service companies, and investors. Micromobility as a class encompasses lightweight devices like e-scooters and skateboards propelled by either human or battery power, though the recent storm of interest was triggered in 2017 by the emergence of one type of micromobility, shared e-scooter systems.

This project will explore public opinion around micromobility, notably questions of particular relevance to local policymakers. Survey topics will include perceptions of safety for both micromobility riders and pedestrians, the potential for micromobility as a first/last mile solution for public transit riders, and road management issues (e.g. “rules of the road” for riders and government policy on shared mobility companies).

USDOT Priorities:

The proposed project aligns with US DOT Notice of Funding Opportunity Challenge 1 (Improving Mobility of People and Goods), particularly with respect to Mobility Innovation. E-scooters have been one of the most successful innovative personal mobility technologies in recent years and is arguably still emerging, with later-Covid rebounds in travel and increasing use of privately-owned scooters. Technological innovation is also still ongoing with companies working on safer and more durable e-scooters, adaptive e-scooters for people with disabilities, and the development of new micromobility form factors.