How Can We Make Shared E-scooter Systems Safer? Municipal Perspectives on Safety in Shared E-scooter Programs

Abstract

Dockless shared electric scooters (e-scooters) are quickly becoming a popular mobility choice in urban areas. E-scooter systems have spread rapidly to cities across North America since 2017. Their ubiquity in urban centres has significant impacts on transportation ecosystems in cities, and has raised significant concerns around safety, public health, accessibility, and public space use. There is a need to better understand how e-scooters can be integrated into existing transportation systems while considering public health and safety. This study examines how municipalities perceive and are responding to issues of public health and safety posed by e-scooters by interviewing municipal staff who oversee e-scooter programs. The results show that municipalities describe similar experiences to those documented in the academic literature. In particular, they identify four safety challenges: e-scooter riders as a new category of vulnerable road users, getting accurate safety data, issues with sidewalk riding and improper parking, and rider behaviour. Recommendations are provided to aid municipal planners in developing local escooter policies around safety in Canada.