As fuel costs climb, more than two-thirds of shared scooter and bike riders say they have replaced car trips with micromobility options in the past month alone, according to a new survey.
The survey, conducted by Veo, a micromobility company operating in more than 60 US cities and universities, polled 2,248 riders between 25th and 29th March. It found that 68% of respondents who own or have access to a car had chosen a shared scooter or bike instead of driving due to higher petrol prices in the previous 30 days.
Nearly three-quarters of riders (73%) said that shared scooters and bikes are cheaper than driving when gas prices are high, with 41% describing them as ‘much cheaper.’
The national average cost of petrol per gallon on 16th March was $3.72. Two weeks later that average stands at $4.11, with states such as California seeing prices fractionally shy of $6.
29% said they would be most likely to choose a scooter or bike instead of driving when the price per gallon reached $4.
One rider from a state where gas cost $4.03 per gallon (at the time of the survey) commented: ‘It makes much more sense for me to use a scooter instead. Plus I don’t have to look for parking.’
Some respondents pointed to the combined savings on fuel and parking. ‘High gas prices coupled with expensive parking fees have made me consider giving up driving altogether,’ wrote one.
The survey also explored why 831 respondents, more than a third of the total, do not own or have access to a car. The number one reason was affordability: the cost of owning a car was cited more than any other factor.
Advice from car-free riders to those considering giving up a car included living in walkable areas with consistent alternative options, knowing bus and train schedules, and using apps to plan journeys. ‘Trains, buses and Veos will take you a long way literally,’ one respondent wrote.
Candice Xie, co-founder and CEO of Veo said: ‘This survey shines a spotlight on what many Americans have known for a long time: Shared scooters and bikes are a more predictable, reliable, and affordable way to get around cities compared to cars.’
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