Toward Equitable Micromobility: Lessons from Austin E-Scooter Sharing Program

Abstract

This study examines the societal impacts of E-scooters on disadvantaged populations in Austin, Texas. Through a population distribution analysis, it compares E-scooter use opportunities and space intrusion burdens among four vulnerable groups. Minority populations experienced fewer E-scooter use opportunities, with a disproportionate wait time for disturbance resolution. Ten percent of the low-income population faced disadvantages in high opportunity areas with moderate burdens. Twenty percent of the physically disabled population encountered moderate-level burdens. However, inequitable outcomes for the elderly population were not significant.

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Team

Shunhua Bai , Junfeng Jiao

Acknowledgments

The authors thank Dr. Alex Karner for his valuable revision suggestions. The authors thank three anonymous reviewers for the constructive comments that help make the study more complete.

Funding

The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This research was supported by the Cooperative Mobility for Competitive Megaregions (CM2) center Year 3 grant at the University of Texas at Austin.