A micromobility buffet: e-scooters in the context of multimodal spaces and practices in Greater Manchester.

We use the Capabilities Approach to understand the ways in which e-scooters, as transportation resources, provide qualities that contribute to the ability of the transport system to enable people to participate in society. Government-led trials have been taking place in the UK since autumn 2020, focused on the provision of sharing schemes and with the intention of creating an evidence base on usership and contextual issues. This paper draws from a mixed-methods study in Greater Manchester, combining online surveys, reference groups and qualitative interviews. The findings suggest that e-scooters have a potential role in expanding the reach and boosting the reliability and flexibility of the transport system. Their relationship with safety is complex. Road safety concerns and issues relating to sharing space present barriers. Conversely, in relation to personal safety, e-scooters provide an alternative to walking through areas in which people may otherwise feel unsafe. For some, e-scooters offer a more affordable alternative to public transport and ride-hailing, but the unpredictability of cost, stemming from the per-minute costing model, can pose challenges for others. The low level of exertion can distinguish e-scooters from other micromobility options and, whilst some might therefore question their value in health terms when compared with other active modes of transport, people with conditions that mean they need to carefully manage their energy expenditure can therefore find e-scooters useful. These potential benefits should however be considered in the context of challenges relating to shared space for walking, cycling and e-scooting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]