European micromobility company Bolt says e-scooter riders are turning away from cars and leading to more people using public transport.

To celebrate last month’s European Mobility Week, the Estonian company conducted research across 14 out of 25 European countries where it offers micromobility services to understand the role of shared scooters in urban mobility systems.

More than half (53%) of Bolt scooter riders are more likely to switch from cars to public transport due to shared scooter availability. And 30% of Bolt scooter riders who don’t own a car are less likely to buy one as they can use shared scooters instead.

The survey also found e-scooters positively impacted businesses, with Bolt scooter riders who make purchases contributing an incremental €46 of consumer spending into local communities for every five trips.

The study revealed that shared scooters make cities more inclusive by expanding mobility options for those in underserved areas, decrease reliance on private cars, and positively impact local businesses. In suburban areas where public transport isn’t easily accessible, shared scooters and e-bikes can connect people to places in the city to work, rest and study.

In 2022, the Wildau University of Applied Sciences (en.th-wildau.de) found that approximately 67% of Bolt scooter riders in the outer suburbs of Berlin primarily connected their micromobility trips with public transport.

The 2024 European Mobility Week’s central theme was shared public space, with an emphasis on better social equity, road safety, less noise and air pollution, and better quality of life.

With Mobility Week traditionally culminating in car-free day, one of the study’s aims was to analyse how scooters impacted reliance on private cars. It found that 39% of Bolt scooter riders would have used private cars if shared scooters hadn’t been available. Furthermore, 38% of Bolt scooter riders don’t own a car, and 30% of those are less likely to buy one as they can use shared scooters instead.

The evidence suggests that access to scooters influences car owners’ decisions to sell their cars and makes it less likely for non-owners to purchase one. With more alternatives, fewer people need to rely on private cars, making cities less car-dependent and more people-centric.

Scooters are a city staple, with 53% of riders using them regularly for commuting and 59% for running errands, making them a crucial part of urban mobility. The availability of shared scooters also boosts the local economy.

Almost half of scooter riders claimed they paused their rides to stop at a local business, and 35% declared they bought goods during at least two previous rides, while 27% purchased goods during at least three rides.

Over half of scooter riders who stop at local businesses during trips said scooters were a quick and easy way to move around, which encourages them to reach local businesses. Ad 48% of respondents highlighted the ease of scooter parking, making it easier to visit venues such as restaurants, cafés and shops.

“The conversation on accessible and affordable transport should continue,” said a Bolt statement. “To give everybody access to shared mobility, operators and cities must ensure that scooters and e-bikes are available in the areas where people live, work and study.”

On average, Bolt (bolt.eu) users are willing to walk up to four minutes to get to a scooter or an e-bike for a ten-minute ride.

“Thus, operators should ensure their vehicles are available at the right place and time,” said the statement. “City authorities, meanwhile, must ensure that regulations allow enough scooters and e-bikes to operate so everyone who wants to use shared mobility instead of a private car can do so. By combining our efforts, we can make our public spaces accessible, people-centric and safe.”