Investigating Safety and Risk Disparity Between Personally Owned and Shared Micromobility Modes
Project Description
This research examines the safety implications of increasingly popular micromobility, particularly focusing on shared e-scooters and personally owned e-bikes. The study has three main goals: (1) how to better measure risk on urban corridors using exposure rather than pure crash counts, (2) safety within e-bike incentive programs in California, and (3) how e-bike owner demographics, riding experience, and crash risk have evolved across two nationwide surveys of personally owned e-bike users. The research seeks to uncover patterns, risk factors, and disparities in micromobility-related crashes by analyzing existing data and collaborating with partners to conduct surveys. By analyzing detailed police crash reports, shared-mobility trip data, survey data, and even housing costs, this project aims to provide evidence to inform policies and improve infrastructure, ultimately enhancing overall transportation safety. Ultimately, the research endeavors to inform policymakers, practitioners, and the public on strategies to mitigate safety risks associated with the proliferation of micromobility modes in urban environments.
Outputs
In addition to a Final Research Report, this project produced three case study chapters. Two of these, the Nashville e-scooter corridor analysis and the pooled e-bike owner survey, have been submitted to peer-reviewed journals. The third chapter, on recipients of the California Air Resources Board (CARB) e-bike incentive, was presented at the International Cycling Safety Conference in Oslo and is included in the final report, though it is not being submitted for separate publication. Together, the chapters offer comprehensive analyses addressing the three research questions outlined, shedding light on the exposure-based safety of e-scooter corridors in Nashville, the evolving demographics, riding experience, and crash risk among owners of personally owned e-bikes, and the safety characteristics of CARB e-bike incentive recipients. By investigating these areas, the research provides a nuanced understanding of the safety risks associated with emerging micromobility modes, thereby informing policy decisions and infrastructure enhancements to bolster overall transportation safety. Given the current surge in the adoption of micromobility devices, the insights from this research are valuable in guiding efforts to address safety challenges and promote safer transportation environments.
Outcomes / Impacts
Overall, the trends, risk factors, and disparities identified by this research will likely directly inform changes within the transportation system, affecting regulatory, legislative, and policy frameworks and practical applications to enhance micromobility safety. The study results in two main outcomes. First, have submitted two technical papers, covering the Nashville e-scooter corridor analysis and the pooled e-bike owner survey, to reputable academic journals specializing in transportation safety, urban planning, or related fields. The CARB incentive analysis is presented within the final report but is not being submitted as a standalone paper.
Second, the research serves as a consolidated resource for stakeholders interested in addressing safety challenges associated with emerging micromobility technologies. Given the vulnerability of micromobility users and the growing use of these devices, there are profound implications for micromobility safety policies and infrastructure planning. Understanding the distinct crash characteristics associated with this growing mode choice will enable policymakers and urban planners to implement targeted interventions to mitigate specific risks, such as enhancing rider education, modifying infrastructure design, prioritizing protected micromobility infrastructure on high-exposure corridors, and pairing e-bike incentives with investment in safe cycling infrastructure in the communities where recipients actually live.
Dates
06/01/2024 to 05/31/2025
Universities
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville
Principal Investigator
Christopher Cherry
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville
ORCID: 0000-0002-8835-4617
Bruce Appleyard
San Diego State University
ORCID: 0000-0003-2105-8079
Research Project Funding
Federal: $101,713
Contract Number
69A3552348336
Project Number
24UTK04
Research Priority
Promoting Safety