Shared micromobility in multimodal travel: Evidence from three European cities

Abstract

Shared micromobility (SMM) has the potential to be integrated into multimodal transport systems in various urban contexts. However, its interaction with other transport modes in individuals' daily travel is not well understood. Accordingly, this study investigates how people use different forms of SMM in conjunction with existing transport modes in three European cities with different urban settings and mobility systems (Utrecht, Greater Manchester, and Malmö). The findings suggest that the usage combination of SMM and existing transport modes varies both within and between cities. Using latent class analysis, we identified four travel patterns in each city. Overall, travellers who use SMM modes more frequently exhibit more multimodal travel patterns, but the combination of modes depends on the city's modal share. Specifically, frequent SMM users use various existing transport modes more frequently; occasional SMM users more often use private micromobility and one or two existing modes; non-SMM users typically use one or more existing modes predominantly. The comparisons of user characteristics across different travel patterns within each city show that individuals' travel patterns mainly differs in their personal demographic characteristics and personal travel attributes (i.e. what vehicles and mobility tools they have) but less so in the spatial characteristics of their residential neighbourhoods. The findings of this study suggest that tailoring SMM services to specific urban contexts will better integrate SMM into existing transport systems and meet the needs of different traveller groups.