Webinar: Evaluation of the e-scooter trial in the West of England

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Rental e-scooter schemes promise a convenient, low-carbon solution for travel. The West of England e-scooter trial launched in October 2020 and is one of 32 e-scooter trials permitted in England by the Government. With three times as many trips as any other scheme in England, the West of England e-scooter rental scheme has been by far the largest in the country. The research team who evaluated the West of England e-scooter trial will present a selection of their findings.

While regulations are to be defined, in the UK, evidence on impacts of such schemes on walking experiences, across age and disability, remains limited.

This TPS and UWE presentation will cover pedestrians’ perspectives, gathered from a survey and walk-along interviews about e-scooter use.

The speakers will delve into the results which highlight the magnitude of impacts shared e-scooter schemes can have on pedestrians and the fact these impacts are diversely felt across demographic groups. For example, disabled people, older people and non-users are less likely to feel safe around e-scooter riders and reported a sense of risk; loss of pedestrian space; and barriers to access.

Kiron Chatterjee will present an overview of the findings, explaining who are using the e-scooters, why they are using them and what this mean for accessibility, wellbeing and carbon emissions.

Tamara Bozovic will present the pedestrian’s perspective, highlighting the magnitude of impacts shared e-scooter schemes can have on pedestrians and the fact these impacts are diversely felt across demographic groups.

Jonathan Flower will report what was found on the interactions of e-scooters with other street users based on observational data. He will contrast the behaviour of e-scooter riders and cyclists and draw implications for safe street use.

The floor will then be opened up to the audience for questions following the presentation.

Speakers:

Tamara Bozovic is walkability researcher (PhD, Auckland University of Technology) with a transport engineering background (EPFL 04). She is interested in urban systems’ retrofit supporting low carbon transport, equity of access for people of all ages and abilities, public health, and liveability.    

Dr Jonathan Flower is a Transport Planner and researcher at the Centre for Transport and Society at UWE Bristol, and a Board member with the Transport Planning Society. His current research project portfolio has a road safety focus and includes bus safety in Nepal; behaviour in proximity to automated vehicles; street design improvements for people walking and cycling; and an evaluation of the West of England e-scooter trial.

Kiron Chatterjee - is Professor of Travel Behaviour in the Centre for Transport & Society at UWE Bristol. His research looks at how travel behaviour changes over time, whether at an individual or societal level, and the influence on this of transport systems and social, economic and technological change. He also seeks to identify how people's access to transport and use of transport affects their life opportunities, health and wellbeing.