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The Future Role of Shared E-Scooters in Urban Mobility: Preliminary Findings from Portugal

Author

Listed:
  • Joao F. Bigotte

    (CITTA—Research Center for Territory, Transports and Environment, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Coimbra, 3030-788 Coimbra, Portugal)

  • Filipa Ferrao

    (CITTA—Research Center for Territory, Transports and Environment, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Coimbra, 3030-788 Coimbra, Portugal)

Abstract

E-scooter sharing systems are a new mobility solution that is emerging in cities all throughout the world. Its rapid diffusion and disruptive nature have gained immediate attention from scholars, decision-makers, the public and the media (with strong arguments in favor of or against being put forward). To date, the scientific community has focused mostly on studying the determinants for adoption by end-users, the trip patterns, the safety, and the sustainability of such systems. This research work provides preliminary insights on the future role that these shared mobility systems can play in urban mobility. The study focuses on recent experiences in Portugal (more than a dozen cities and a dozen service providers) drawing on a literature review and an expert survey (N = 23) with local decision-makers, scholars, service providers and civic associations. The analysis provides a positive outlook on the future of shared e-scooters, observes that deployment has been taking place through waves of launch–test–withdraw/expand, and highlights which policies and actions should be prioritized so that these systems can make a truly significant contribution towards sustainable urban mobility and livable cities.

Suggested Citation

  • Joao F. Bigotte & Filipa Ferrao, 2023. "The Future Role of Shared E-Scooters in Urban Mobility: Preliminary Findings from Portugal," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(23), pages 1-14, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:23:p:16467-:d:1291891
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. McKenzie, Grant, 2019. "Spatiotemporal comparative analysis of scooter-share and bike-share usage patterns in Washington, D.C," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 78(C), pages 19-28.
    2. Parkes, Stephen D. & Marsden, Greg & Shaheen, Susan A. & Cohen, Adam P., 2013. "Understanding the diffusion of public bikesharing systems: evidence from Europe and North America," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 31(C), pages 94-103.
    3. Goletz, Mirko & Haustein, Sonja & Wolking, Christina & L’Hostis, Alain, 2020. "Intermodality in European metropolises: The current state of the art, and the results of an expert survey covering Berlin, Copenhagen, Hamburg and Paris," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 109-122.
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    5. Zhang, Junyi & Hayashi, Yoshitsugu & Frank, Lawrence D., 2021. "COVID-19 and transport: Findings from a world-wide expert survey," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 103(C), pages 68-85.
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    Cited by:

    1. Adorean, Emanuel-Cristian & Nofre, Jordi & Moura, Filipe, 2026. "Clustering users and non-users of shared and private e-bikes and e-scooters across three European cities: Typologies, spatial patterns, and policy implications," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 175(C).
    2. Junnan Ye & Yeping Gou & Haoyue Liang & Feifan Yuan & Chaoxiang Yang, 2025. "A Design Method for Shared Two-Wheeled Electric Scooters (STWESs), Integrating Context Theory and Kansei Engineering," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(8), pages 1-23, April.

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