Advisor(s)
Virginia P Sisiopiku
Committee Member(s)
Da Yan
Leon Jololian
Michael Anderson
Muhammad M Sherif
School
School of Engineering
Document Type
Dissertation
Department (new version)
Civil Engineering
Date of Award
9-9-2024
Abstract
The growing prevalence of micromobility has significantly impacted urban mo-bility, offering a sustainable and convenient alternative for short trips in urban settings. As cities grapple with increasing congestion, pollution, and the demand for efficient mobility solutions, micromobility options like e-scooters and e-bikes have emerged as popular modes of transportation, particularly in densely populated areas. While earlier research has contributed to understanding micromobility and its impact on urban set-tings, significant knowledge gaps still exist. Therefore, a comprehensive study is neces-sary to explore the multifaceted dimensions of e-scooter adoption, usage patterns of mi-cromobility, and their implications for urban transportation systems and traffic opera-tions to bridge the knowledge gaps related to this emerging mode. First, this study employed a meta-analysis of survey data combined with ma-chine learning (ML) and SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) analysis to investigate and compare e-scooter user and non-user attitudes towards shared e-scooter use in Washington, D.C., Miami, FL, and Los Angeles, CA. Factor analysis and the Kruskal-Wallis test complemented the survey analysis. The study then utilized Birmingham, AL, as a case study, and employed space-time pattern mining techniques and Kernel Density methods to analyze spatiotemporal demand variations and correlations between micro-mobility ridership, demographic characteristics, and land use patterns using clustering approaches and a multilevel negative binomial model. Finally, the study employed the Multi-Agent Transport Simulation (MATSim) platform to evaluate the impact of differ-ent shared e-scooter fleet sizes on transportation mode selection in the presence of a va-riety of transportation modes, including private automobiles, transit, walking, and shared e-scooters. The integration of shared e-scooter trips into the comprehensive MATSim traffic simulation model of the Birmingham region allowed to assess patterns of e-scooter trips and their impact on local traffic operations. Key findings from this comprehensive study revealed that e-scooter users were predominantly aged 25 to 39, male, with higher income and education levels, and most possessed a driver's license. Employment status, car ownership, and attitudes towards car and technology usage significantly influenced e-scooter adoption. Additionally, this study identified peak usage of e-scooters in Birmingham, AL, on weekends, during af-ternoon and evening hours, and in warmer months, with high-density trip origins in are-as such as Railroad Park and the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) campus. Analysis of demographic characteristics in Birmingham showed positive associations between micromobility ridership and younger populations, presence of park areas, commercial and residential land uses, and walkability, while increased distance from the city center reduced ridership. The study also found significant seasonal trends and clustering of e-scooter trips near leisure hubs, with minimal impacts on traffic opera-tions despite some modal shifts. These studies performed and documented in this dissertation collectively con-tributed to a deeper understanding of shared e-scooter usage dynamics, offering strate-gic insights for enhancing urban mobility through effective micromobility integration. The findings are expected to inform researchers, practitioners, providers, and decision makers involved in urban transportation planning, policy development, and resource allocation, and assist them toward promoting sustainable and efficient urban mobility solutions.
ProQuest ID
Recommended Citation
Jafarzadehfadaki, Mostafa, "The Role Of Micromobility In The Changing Urban Mobility Landscape" (2024). All ETDs from UAB. 7590.
https://digitalcommons.library.uab.edu/etd-collection/7590
