Scooters our preferred mode of commuting and sightseeing – but safety fears remain
Love them or hate them, rideshare scooters have proved to be a significant boost for tourism and were better than public transport, according to a study by the University of Queensland.
The university’s Business School investigated the impact of the scooters through a survey of about 1000 people.
“More than 80 per cent of visitors said e-scooters enhanced their experience when visiting the city,” lead author Dr Richard Buning said.
But there was also a section of the community that found the scooters too dangerous or too expensive.
He said the research team was surprised to find people were using e-scooters and e-bikes as an alternative to public transport or traditional rideshare options.
“Many visitors thought Brisbane’s public transport network could be easier to navigate and believed they’d miss the city’s best sights when travelling by car,” he said.
“However, they found e-scooters were easy to use and an enjoyable way to experience the city, with many regarding them as a tourism experience rather than transportation.”
But there was a divergence of opinion of the scooters. Those who used them said they were enjoyable and were regarded as a tourism experience rather than transportation.
Non-users were indifferent and a minority considered them a nuisance.
The report also investigated barriers for those who didn’t use e-scooters and e-bikes, with many identifying them as too expensive, too dangerous, too difficult to sign up to use or simply ‘not for them’.
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“Understandably, safety is a concern but regulation and infrastructure by governments can help lower this barrier, which will enable safe and accessible use and hopefully lead to further positive views of e-scooters.”
Previous research has also found that women use the scooters as a safety option.
