Source: Zag Daily, Air Quality News Image credit: Air Quality News

From a survey of over 2,248 riders across 60 US markets, 68% said that they have replaced car journeys with shared scooter or bike trips in the previous 30 days due to higher petrol prices.

For the first time in four years, the USA’s average petrol price exceeded $4 per gallon, due to the ongoing Iran war continuing to pressurise global fuel markets.

The AAA has reported that between February 26 and March 26, the average regular petrol price rose by approximately $1.

Study showing the rising fuel costs on shared micromobility usage

Against the context of the recent rise in fuel costs, shared micromobility operator Veo recently conducted a study on how much it has influenced micromobility uptake by surveying over 2,200 riders.

From respondents who have access to or own a car, 68% said that due to the higher petrol prices from the previous 30 days, that they have used shared scooter or bike rides instead of car trips.

The survey also reveals that approximately 73% of these riders which have car access, stated that micromobility trips are cheaper than driving when petrol prices are high, with them being described as a “much cheaper” option by over 40% of respondents.

It revealed that the highest share of respondents stated that the $4-per-gallon mark as being the price that sways them to choose using a bike or scooter instead of a car.

Meanwhile, the survey indicated why 831 respondents (over a third of the total) don’t have access to, or own a car, with the number one reason being cited as affordability.

One respondent noted the integration of shared mobility and public transportation as being beneficial to their travel needs:
“Trains, buses and Veos will take you a long way literally.”

With fuel prices continuing to rise in not just the USA but all over the world, this latest survey emphasises that cost is playing a key role in encouraging more citizens to use the more sustainable transportation mode of shared micromobility instead of cars.