Survey shows bicycle and scooter sharers travel more sustainably

Source: Way To Go

A study of 4,100 users by the University of Antwerp and Way To Go, alongside several bike and scooter-sharing transportation services, revealed that those who use bike and scooter-sharing services drive less, and walk or use public transport more than the average Flemish person.

This is the first study in Belgium to investigate the structural impact of bike and scooter sharing.

Bike and scooter sharers use more public transportation and walk more often

Firstly, the study shows that those who embrace shared bike and scooter services use the bus, tram and metro more often than the average Flemish person each week: 29% of bike users and 41% of scooter users, compared to 11% of Flemish people. They also walk more regularly: 87% of bike users and 86% of scooter users, compared to 76% of Flemish people).

The findings show that shared bikes and scooters often fill service gaps left by public transport, such as late evening travel, areas with limited connections, or to avoid peak-hour congestion. “This confirms that shared mobility has become a necessary link in the mobility mix, not just a spontaneous choice,” said Jeffrey Matthijs, Director of Way To Go. “Shared bikes and scooters and public transport are not competitors, but reinforce each other. There are clear opportunities for public transport companies to develop combination tickets and subscriptions that integrate these services.”

Fewer private vehicles

The study highlights a broader shift in ownership patterns. 43% of shared mobility users do not own a car, compared with 19% of the Flemish population. Bicycle ownership is also lower (65% vs. 80%). Moreover, shared mobility is directly influencing decisions to give up private vehicles: in the year prior to the survey, 6% of respondents reported disposing of their car and 5% their bicycle.

Demographic differences

The research shows marked contrasts between user groups. Bike-sharing users tend to be older (average age 41), highly educated, and more likely to live in smaller households, with a nearly equal gender balance. Scooter-sharing users are typically younger (with an average age of 33), and more often students, and more likely to live with parents or in shared accommodation. Two-thirds (66%) of scooter users are male, and this group is less likely to hold a driver’s license.

Impact on car travel

Critics of shared mobility often argue that it replaces walking or public transport trips. The study acknowledges this but stresses that a significant number of car journeys are also avoided. Without access to shared bicycles, 17% of users would have opted to drive; for scooter users, the figure is 11%. “Micromobility partly replaces active mobility, but also significantly replaces car journeys,” Matthijs emphasized. “The net result is clearly positive for sustainable mobility.“

The role of bike and scooter sharing in Flemish mobility

The survey was jointly developed by eight bike and scooter sharing providers, who for the first time collaborated on a single questionnaire and data set. According to the University of Antwerp, the findings demonstrate that shared bicycles and scooters are not merely a convenience but a structural component of the Flemish mobility landscape.

The full report can be accessed here.