Pedestrian experiences of rental e-scooter use and parking

The study explores pedestrian experiences of shared e-scooters in relation to safety and comfort, and issues of discrimination, considering disability as an important dimension. It differentiates between the views of those who have ridden e-scooters and those who have not. It draws on a survey (N = 643) and walk-along interviews (N = 9) as part of an evaluation of the West of England rental e-scooter trial. Participants expressed strong feelings from experiencing crashes or witnessing near-misses. Disorderly parking is particularly challenging for partially sighted people and people with balance issues. Participants noted that there is little e-scooter parking infrastructure, and this results in pedestrian space infringement. Also, the appropriateness, respect for, and enforcement of rules were questioned by the participants. We conclude that equitable city access is not possible without the provision of appropriate space, rules, and rule enforcement for e-scooters, and these need to be addressed quickly given e-scooter rental scheme popularity.