Perceptions toward pedestrians and micromobility devices in off-street cycling facilities and multi-use paths in metropolitan Vancouver, Canada

Abstract

As micromobility or personal mobility devices (PMD) expand and evolve for urban transportation, there is increasing concern about the comfort and safety of off-street cycling facilities and multi-use paths. While there is a growing literature on the impacts of electric bicycles and scooters, we lack a comprehensive understanding of the comfort implications of the diverse array of micromobility devices currently in use. In this study we 1) characterize perceptions of comfort for people sharing off-street transportation facilities with pedestrians and 24 types of PMD, 2) examine how perceptions of comfort are affected by the perceiver, device, and contextual variables, and 3) investigate the disparity between actual and perceived micromobility mode shares and speeds. We collected data using a quasi-intercept survey of path users at 12 locations in metropolitan Vancouver, Canada, which were matched with location-specific volumes and speeds classified by PMD type. Results indicate that, despite an overestimation of the prevalence and speed of new forms of PMD, people are predominantly comfortable sharing with most devices except sit-down electric (moped-style) scooters. Pedestrians are less comfortable sharing with electric devices than are people using other PMDs. Model results show that motorized PMD would have to go 9 km/hr slower than the equivalent non-motorized device to have the same impact on comfort. Recommendations include modernizing PMD regulations, working to eliminate the use of sit-down electric scooters on off-street facilities, lowering thresholds for separating pedestrians on multi-use paths, and continued monitoring of speed and comfort impacts from evolving PMD.