Safety Related Behaviors and Law Adherence of Shared E-Scooter Riders in Germany

Abstract

Shared e-scooters, whose supply and coverage keeps increasing in many cities around the globe, are rapidly changing mobility in urban road environments. As rising injury rates have been observed alongside this new form of mobility, researchers are investigating potential factors that relate to safe/unsafe e-scooter use. In Germany, e-scooter sharing platforms were only recently permitted in the middle of 2019, and their number has increased steadily since then. The aim of this study was to assess key factors that relate to their safe use, through a direct observation of e-scooters conducted at three observation sites around Berlin. Helmet use, dual use, type of infrastructure use, and travel direction correctness were registered for 777 shared e-scooters during 12.5 hours of observation. Results reveal a high level of rule infractions, with more than one quarter of observed shared escooter riders using incorrect infrastructure, and one in ten e-scooter users riding against the direction of traffic. Dual use (i.e., two riders per e-scooter), was observed for 5.1% of shared e-scooters. Moreover, none of the riders observed in this study used a helmet on their shared e-scooter. These results point to a need for better communication and enforcement of existing traffic rules regarding infrastructure use and dual use. Further, they indicate a lack of efficacy of safety-related advice of shared e-scooter providers, who promote helmet use in their smartphone application and directly on their e-scooters.

Characteristics and Risk Factors for Electric Scooter-Related Crashes and Injury Crashes among Scooter Riders: A Two-Phase Survey Study

“…Surprisingly, helmet use was associated with more e-scooter-related crashes in this study. However, it should be noted that more than half of participants in this study reported having been wearing a helmet, compared to nil or relatively uncommon helmet use among e-scooter users from other studies, particularly for shared e-scooters [ 20 , 21 , 45 ]. Due to the lack of helmet use exposure on each infrastructure type and trip-specific information, it is challenging to reliably draw a clear relationship between riders’ helmet use frequencies and the outcomes in the present study.…”

E-scooter riders and pedestrians: Attitudes and interactions in five countries

“…The authors conclude: 1) the traffic rules for e-scooters are not clear; 2) e-scooter riders bend the rules, and 3) there is a relative absence of common knowledge in perceiving and understanding e-scooter motion so that pedestrians become hesitant and react haphazardly [ 30 ]. Likewise, Siebert et al found that 32% of 777 shared e-scooters' riders observed violated existing road rules (e.g., using prohibited infrastructure, simultaneous use of an e-scooter by two people) [ 31 ]. Next, a study from Rosslyn, Virginia, highlights that 56% of the respondents felt unsafe or very unsafe around dockless e-scooter riders compared to users of other modes of transportation.…”

Differences in perception of safety in driving environment according to shared PMD user experience through multi-criteria analysis

“…A number of previous studies have also mentioned the need to develop effective strategies and management for travel behaviour and driving environment in shared PMD [ 31 , 51 ]. In this study, the difference in importance for user experience was further identified through ANP analysis.…”

“…The regulations prioritise pedestrians on roads and protect them from being threatened or disturbed in their movement while using roads. The German government operates exclusive roads for electric bicycles where PMD users are allowed to pass bicycle users [ 31 ]. The United States classifies PMDs that can be driven at 32 km/h as low-speed vehicles, and local governments allow PMD users to drive on bicycle roads, sidewalk pavements, and public roads (approved in 22 states) according to the characteristics of the PMDs [ 32 ].…”