IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v15y2023i4p3095-d1061871.html

Describing Micro-Mobility First/Last-Mile Routing Behavior in Urban Road Networks through a Novel Modeling Approach

Author

Listed:
  • Panagiotis G. Tzouras

    (Department of Rural Technology and Development, School of Rural, Surveying and Geoinformatics Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, 15780 Athens, Greece)

  • Lambros Mitropoulos

    (LKM Consulting Engineers and Planners, 10682 Athens, Greece)

  • Katerina Koliou

    (Department of Rural Technology and Development, School of Rural, Surveying and Geoinformatics Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, 15780 Athens, Greece)

  • Eirini Stavropoulou

    (Department of Rural Technology and Development, School of Rural, Surveying and Geoinformatics Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, 15780 Athens, Greece)

  • Christos Karolemeas

    (MoveNow Technologies P.C., 10677 Athens, Greece)

  • Eleni Antoniou

    (Department of Rural Technology and Development, School of Rural, Surveying and Geoinformatics Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, 15780 Athens, Greece)

  • Antonis Karaloulis

    (MoveNow Technologies P.C., 10677 Athens, Greece)

  • Konstantinos Mitropoulos

    (LKM Consulting Engineers and Planners, 10682 Athens, Greece)

  • Eleni I. Vlahogianni

    (Department of Transportation Planning and Technology, School of Civil Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, 15780 Athens, Greece)

  • Konstantinos Kepaptsoglou

    (Department of Rural Technology and Development, School of Rural, Surveying and Geoinformatics Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, 15780 Athens, Greece)

Abstract

E-scooters aspire to provide flexibility to their users while covering the first/last mile of a multimodal trip. Yet, their dual travel behavior, i.e., utilizing both vehicles’ roadways and pedestrians’ sidewalks, creates new challenges to transport modelers. This study aims to model e-scooter riding behavior in comparison to traditional urban transport modes, namely car and walking. The new modeling approach is based on perceived safety that is influenced by the road environment and affects routing behavior. An ordinal logistic model of perceived safety is applied to classify road links in a 7-point Likert scale. The parametric utility function combines only three basic parameters: time, cost, and perceived safety. First/last mile routing choices are modeled in a test road network developed in Athens, Greece, utilizing the shortest-path algorithm. The proposed modeling approach proved to be useful, as the road environment of an urban area is heterogenous in terms of safety perceptions. Indeed, the model outputs show that the flexibility of e-scooters is limited in practice by their low-perceived safety. To avoid unsafe road environments where motorized traffic dominates, e-scooter riders tend to detour. This decision-making process tool can identify road network discontinuities. Nevertheless, their significance regarding routing behavior should be further discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Panagiotis G. Tzouras & Lambros Mitropoulos & Katerina Koliou & Eirini Stavropoulou & Christos Karolemeas & Eleni Antoniou & Antonis Karaloulis & Konstantinos Mitropoulos & Eleni I. Vlahogianni & Kons, 2023. "Describing Micro-Mobility First/Last-Mile Routing Behavior in Urban Road Networks through a Novel Modeling Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-23, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:4:p:3095-:d:1061871
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/4/3095/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/4/3095/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Marisdea Castiglione & Antonio Comi & Rosita De Vincentis & Andreea Dumitru & Marialisa Nigro, 2022. "Delivering in Urban Areas: A Probabilistic-Behavioral Approach for Forecasting the Use of Electric Micromobility," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-13, July.
    2. Bai, Lu & Liu, Pan & Chan, Ching-Yao & Li, Zhibin, 2017. "Estimating level of service of mid-block bicycle lanes considering mixed traffic flow," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 101(C), pages 203-217.
    3. Cao, Zhejing & Zhang, Xiaohu & Chua, Kelman & Yu, Honghai & Zhao, Jinhua, 2021. "E-scooter sharing to serve short-distance transit trips: A Singapore case," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 147(C), pages 177-196.
    4. Nigro, Marialisa & Castiglione, Marisdea & Maria Colasanti, Fabio & De Vincentis, Rosita & Valenti, Gaetano & Liberto, Carlo & Comi, Antonio, 2022. "Exploiting floating car data to derive the shifting potential to electric micromobility," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 157(C), pages 78-93.
    5. Sanders, Rebecca L. & Branion-Calles, Michael & Nelson, Trisalyn A., 2020. "To scoot or not to scoot: Findings from a recent survey about the benefits and barriers of using E-scooters for riders and non-riders," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 139(C), pages 217-227.
    6. Chen Feng & Junfeng Jiao & Haofeng Wang, 2022. "Estimating E-Scooter Traffic Flow Using Big Data to Support Planning for Micromobility," Journal of Urban Technology, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 29(2), pages 139-157, April.
    7. Pritchard, John P. & Tomasiello, Diego Bogado & Giannotti, Mariana & Geurs, Karst, 2019. "Potential impacts of bike-and-ride on job accessibility and spatial equity in São Paulo, Brazil," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 121(C), pages 386-400.
    8. Alexandros Nikitas & Stefanos Tsigdinos & Christos Karolemeas & Efthymia Kourmpa & Efthimios Bakogiannis, 2021. "Cycling in the Era of COVID-19: Lessons Learnt and Best Practice Policy Recommendations for a More Bike-Centric Future," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-25, April.
    9. Fitch, Dillon T. & Carlen, Jane & Handy, Susan L., 2022. "What makes bicyclists comfortable? Insights from a visual preference survey of casual and prospective bicyclists," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 155(C), pages 434-449.
    10. Sergio A. Useche & Javier Gene-Morales & Felix W. Siebert & Francisco Alonso & Luis Montoro, 2021. "“Not as Safe as I Believed”: Differences in Perceived and Self-Reported Cycling Behavior between Riders and Non-Riders," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-14, February.
    11. Muren, & Li, Hao & Mukhopadhyay, Samar K. & Wu, Jian-jun & Zhou, Li & Du, Zhiping, 2020. "Balanced maximal covering location problem and its application in bike-sharing," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 223(C).
    12. Anastasios Charisis & Christina Iliopoulou & Konstantinos Kepaptsoglou, 2018. "DRT route design for the first/last mile problem: model and application to Athens, Greece," Public Transport, Springer, vol. 10(3), pages 499-527, December.
    13. Baojin Wang & David Hensher & Tu Ton, 2002. "Safety in the road environment: a driver behavioural response perspective," Transportation, Springer, vol. 29(3), pages 253-270, August.
    14. Park, Keunhyun & Farb, Anna & Chen, Shuolei, 2021. "First-/last-mile experience matters: The influence of the built environment on satisfaction and loyalty among public transit riders," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 32-42.
    15. Molin, Eric & Blangé, Joey & Cats, Oded & Chorus, Caspar, 2017. "Willingness to pay for safety improvements in passenger air travel," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 165-175.
    16. Zheng, Nan & Geroliminis, Nikolas, 2013. "On the distribution of urban road space for multimodal congested networks," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 57(C), pages 326-341.
    17. Jeffrey Glenn & Madeline Bluth & Mannon Christianson & Jaymie Pressley & Austin Taylor & Gregory S. Macfarlane & Robert A. Chaney, 2020. "Considering the Potential Health Impacts of Electric Scooters: An Analysis of User Reported Behaviors in Provo, Utah," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(17), pages 1-15, August.
    18. Ralph Buehler & Jennifer Dill, 2016. "Bikeway Networks: A Review of Effects on Cycling," Transport Reviews, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 36(1), pages 9-27, January.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Ecer, Fatih & Küçükönder, Hande & Kayapınar Kaya, Sema & Faruk Görçün, Ömer, 2023. "Sustainability performance analysis of micro-mobility solutions in urban transportation with a novel IVFNN-Delphi-LOPCOW-CoCoSo framework," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 172(C).
    2. Jeppe Rich, 2026. "Let’s walk! The fallacy of urban first- and last-mile public transport," Transportation, Springer, vol. 53(1), pages 511-533, February.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Theodora Sorkou & Panagiotis G. Tzouras & Katerina Koliou & Lambros Mitropoulos & Christos Karolemeas & Konstantinos Kepaptsoglou, 2022. "An Approach to Model the Willingness to Use of E-Scooter Sharing Services in Different Urban Road Environments," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-15, November.
    2. Bretones, Alexandra & Marquet, Oriol, 2022. "Sociopsychological factors associated with the adoption and usage of electric micromobility. A literature review," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 127(C), pages 230-249.
    3. Zhu, Siying & Zhu, Feng, 2019. "Cycling comfort evaluation with instrumented probe bicycle," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 129(C), pages 217-231.
    4. Ospina, Juan P. & Duque, Juan C. & Botero-Fernández, Verónica & Montoya, Alejandro, 2022. "The maximal covering bicycle network design problem," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 159(C), pages 222-236.
    5. Arellana, Julián & Saltarín, María & Larrañaga, Ana Margarita & González, Virginia I. & Henao, César Augusto, 2020. "Developing an urban bikeability index for different types of cyclists as a tool to prioritise bicycle infrastructure investments," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 139(C), pages 310-334.
    6. Panagiotis G. Tzouras & Valentina Pastia & Ioannis Kaparias & Konstantinos Kepaptsoglou, 2025. "Exploring the effect of perceived safety in first/last mile mode choices," Transportation, Springer, vol. 52(5), pages 2145-2183, October.
    7. Mohiuddin, Hossain & Bunch, David S. & Fukushige, Tatsuya & Fitch-Polse, Dillon T. & Handy, Susan L., 2025. "What factors influence the adoption and use of dockless electric bike-share? A case study from the Sacramento region," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 199(C).
    8. Krauss, Konstantin & Gnann, Till & Burgert, Tobias & Axhausen, Kay W., 2024. "Faster, greener, scooter? An assessment of shared e-scooter usage based on real-world driving data," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 181(C).
    9. Abouelela, Mohamed & Chaniotakis, Emmanouil & Antoniou, Constantinos, 2023. "Understanding the landscape of shared-e-scooters in North America; Spatiotemporal analysis and policy insights," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 169(C).
    10. Roig-Costa, Oriol & Miralles-Guasch, Carme & Marquet, Oriol, 2024. "Shared bikes vs. private e-scooters. Understanding patterns of use and demand in a policy-constrained micromobility environment," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 146(C), pages 116-125.
    11. Esztergár-Kiss, Domokos & Tordai, Dániel & Lopez Lizarraga, Julio C., 2022. "Assessment of travel behavior related to e-scooters using a stated preference experiment," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 166(C), pages 389-405.
    12. Teusch, Julian & Saavedra, Bruno Neumann & Scherr, Yannick Oskar & Müller, Jörg P., 2025. "Strategic planning of geo-fenced micro-mobility facilities using reinforcement learning," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 194(C).
    13. Yin, Zehui & Rybarczyk, Greg & Zheng, Anran & Su, Lin & Sun, Bingrong & Yan, Xiang, 2024. "Shared micromobility as a first- and last-mile transit solution? Spatiotemporal insights from a novel dataset," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 114(C).
    14. Psarrou Kalakoni, Anna Mariam & Christoforou, Zoi & Gioldasis, Christos, 2024. "The ambivalent relationship of e-scooters and public transport: Evidence from France," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 159(C), pages 215-229.
    15. Oviedo, Daniel & Sabogal-Cardona, Orlando, 2022. "Arguments for cycling as a mechanism for sustainable modal shifts in Bogotá," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 99(C).
    16. Valenzuela-Levi, N. & Echiburu, T. & Correa, J. & Hurtubia, R. & Muñoz, J.C., 2021. "Housing and accessibility after the COVID-19 pandemic: Rebuilding for resilience, equity and sustainable mobility," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 109(C), pages 48-60.
    17. Maximilian Heumann & Tobias Kraschewski & Tim Brauner & Lukas Tilch & Michael H. Breitner, 2021. "A Spatiotemporal Study and Location-Specific Trip Pattern Categorization of Shared E-Scooter Usage," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-24, November.
    18. Khashayar Kazemzadeh & Aliaksei Laureshyn & Lena Winslott Hiselius & Enrico Ronchi, 2020. "Expanding the Scope of the Bicycle Level-of-Service Concept: A Review of the Literature," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-30, April.
    19. Schumann, Hans-Heinrich & Haitao, He & Natapov, Asya & Quddus, Mohammed, 2025. "The influence of spatial configuration on e-scooter traffic flows," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 198(C).
    20. Cai, Yangqian & Moreno, Ana Tsui, 2024. "Identifying non-universal heterogeneity of preferences of leisure cyclists for rural highway environments: A latent-class model," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 186(C).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:4:p:3095-:d:1061871. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.