A modeling effort of e-scooters in Chicago, Illinois.
Chicago, Illinois, United States
E-Scooter Scenarios: Evaluating the Potential Mobility Benefits of Shared Dockless Scooters in Chicago
Summary Information
Shared electric scooters (e-scooters) are an emerging mobility form now found in a number of cities around the world. These systems allow users to rent an e-scooter for short periods of time for recreational or transportation use. Such vehicles typically travel between 15 and 25 mi/h and have a maximum range of roughly 30 miles. However, transportation planners, policy makers, and researchers are only just beginning to understand the impacts of these devices on transportation systems.
METHODOLOGY
A research team from DePaul University in Chicago set out to study the effects of e-scooters on urban transportation systems. To do this the researchers collected a wide variety of open source data such as Open Street Map data, public transit data, bike share data and e-scooter data. This data was then used to simulate travel times and travel speeds with and without e-scooters in the Chicago area.
FINDINGS
- In parking-constrained, dense urban environments the introduction of e-scooters can increase the number of trips in which non-auto options are time-competitive with driving from 47 to 75 percent.
- Due to their cost, e-scooters will likely not result in significant diversion from transit on longer distance routes.
- Results imply that e-scooters can fill gaps in existing transportation networks.
