What Drives Success in Public Shared Micromobility Programs?

Research Team: Michael Hyland (lead), Jean-Daniel Saphores, and Arash Ghaffar

UC Campus(es): UC Irvine

Problem Statement: Cities across the US and the world have implemented shared micromobility services, including e-scooters and (e-)bikes. These services offer moderate-speed, space-efficient, and carbon-light mobility, which promotes environmental sustainability and healthy travel. The benefits of shared micromobility coupled with the availability of data have fueled a growing literature on shared micromobility ridership.

Project Description: To assess the ingredients for and obstacles to successful shared micromobility programs, this project performed a meta-analysis of 29 studies that estimate statistical models of zone- or station-based shared micromobility trip counts, including 22 that examine station-based bikeshare systems. The meta-analysis reveals positive elasticities between shared micromobility usage and population density, employment density, median household income, bus stops, metro stations, bike infrastructure, and nearby station capacity. In contrast, station elevation has a negative elasticity. These magnitudes can inform shared micromobility providers and transportation planners seeking to plan/design shared micromobility systems to promote environmentally sustainable travel. The meta-analysis also reveals that the existing literature fails to (i) capture spatial dependencies, and (ii) discuss the practical implications of model parameters.

Status: Completed

Budget: $79,991