Perception, travel satisfaction associated with the use of electric moped scooters: Evidence from Suzhou, China

Electric moped scooters have rapidly emerged as the preferred mode of transportation for short-duration travelers, owing to their compact size, reliability, convenience, and cost-effective. As one of the most popular short-duration transport modes in China, however, only very few studies have explored the relationship between commuting satisfaction, users perception, socio-demographics, and usage of the e-moped scooter. What is more, there is a dearth of research on the usage frequency of e-moped scooter for various travel purposes. In practice, individuals often consider their travel needs and objectives when selecting a mode of transport. Thus, to investigate the factors influencing the usage of e-moped scooter, a survey was conducted in Suzhou, China. Generalized ordered logit models were employed for the analysis. The findings suggest that the satisfaction with reliability and driving speed significantly influences the usage of e-moped scooter for commute among frequent users. However, the perception of time-saving has a negative impact on the usage frequency in frequent electric moped scooter users for commute. Moreover, no significant effect of the satisfaction with reliability and driving speed, and the perception of time-saving are found on the use frequency of e-moped scooters for both shopping and recreational activities. By examining the determining factors that influence the utilization of electric moped scooters for various travel purposes, we can enhance individuals' acceptance of this transport mode and promote the development of e-moped scooters in China, and targeted practical implications were given in this study.