Micromobility Trip Characteristics, Transit Connections, and COVID-19 Effects

Research Team: Dillon Fitch (lead), Alan Jenn, Tatsuya Fukushige, Hossain Mohiuddin, and Hayden Andersen

UC Campus(es): UC Davis

Problem Statement: While micromobility services (e.g., bikeshare, e-bike share, e-scooter share) hold great potential for providing clean travel, estimating the effects of those services on vehicle miles traveled and reducing greenhouse gases is challenging. Many cities collect various micromobility usage metrics to regulate services, but there is a lack of detailed micromobility metrics for calculating sustainability benefits.

Project Description: This research uses existing data and collect new data to inform the Clean Miles Standard and Incentive Program. This study (1) leverages survey data and public feeds for micromobility usage to assemble estimates that are useful for cities to start monitoring the sustainability of micromobility services, (2) examines the usage trends before and after the initial shock of the pandemic, and (3) analyzes the effects of micromobility services on transit use through city-and stop-scale analysis of micromobility trips and transit ridership. The researchers also collected additional GBFS data for the same operators and cities to improve estimates of trip characteristics and to understand the impact of shelter-in-home and other public policy responses to the COVID-19 pandemic on micromobility use.

Status: Completed

Budget: $80,000