Home E-Scooter usage and mobility behavior during the Covid-19 crisis – Evidence from a large scale survey in Munich and implications for leisure and tourism
Article
Licensed
Unlicensed Requires Authentication

E-Scooter usage and mobility behavior during the Covid-19 crisis – Evidence from a large scale survey in Munich and implications for leisure and tourism

  • Norbert Klassen

    Norbert Klassen is a professor at the Faculty of Tourism at Munich University of Applied Sciences. His main areas of interest in teaching and research are mobility and transport, national parks and empirical research.

     EMAIL logo     and Christian Jödden

    Christian Jödden is a psychologist and Director Insights Division at Kantar in Munich. His work focuses on quantitative market research and consulting projects in the field of mobility research.
Published/Copyright: November 19, 2022
Zeitschrift für Tourismuswissenschaft
From the journal Zeitschrift für Tourismuswissenschaft Volume 14 Issue 3

Abstract

This paper presents the actual situation and the background on micromobility and e-scoooter research and their operations in cities especially during the pandemic. To better understand the reasons for use and the current implications a large scale representative survey has been conducted in Munich. As micromobility cannot be considered isolated, the results focus on urban mobility and the integration of micromobility into the overall context especially looking into usage before and after the pandemic, user preferences, safety and specific user segments. Although tourism is not the focus of this survey, it is argued that the use of specific modes at home and being accustomed to, will positively influence mode use abroad as a tourist as well. Consequently, the article discusses and interprets e-scooter findings and derives recommendations for sustainable city planning as well as for tourism and leisure.

Keywords: Mobility behavior; mode choice; transport; Covid-19 pandemic; E-Scooter; micromobility

About the authors

Norbert Klassen

Norbert Klassen is a professor at the Faculty of Tourism at Munich University of Applied Sciences. His main areas of interest in teaching and research are mobility and transport, national parks and empirical research.

Christian Jödden

Christian Jödden is a psychologist and Director Insights Division at Kantar in Munich. His work focuses on quantitative market research and consulting projects in the field of mobility research.

Acknowledgements

The authors appreciate the contributions of all tourism management students of Munich University of Applied Sciences who participated in lectures dedicated to the project since October 2019. Especially students in winter term 2020/21 co-developed the survey instrument, disseminated the survey, and coded the data. Without their great help this work would not have been possible.

References

6t-bureau de recherche, (2019), Uses and Users of Free-floating Electric Scooters in France. https://6-t.co/en/etudes/uses-and-users-of-free-floating-e-scooters-in-france/ [13.04.2022].Search in Google Scholar

Anwari, N., Ahmed, M., Islam, M., Hadiuzzaman, M. & Amin, S. (2021). Exploring the travel behavior changes caused by the COVID-19 crisis: A case study for a developing country. (K. Kim, Ed.) Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives, 100334. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trip.2021.100334.10.1016/j.trip.2021.100334Search in Google Scholar

Arias-Molinares, D., Romanillos, G., García-Palomares, J. C. & Gutiérrez, J. (2021). Exploring the spatio-temporal dynamics of moped-style scooter sharing services in urban areas. Journal of Transport Geography, 96. 2021, 103193. ISSN 0966-6923. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2021.103193.10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2021.103193Search in Google Scholar

Bauder, M. (2020). Mobilität 4.0 im Tourismus – Entwicklungen, Wirkungen und Herausforderungen aus Destinationsperspektive. Zeitschrift für Tourismuswissenschaft, 12(1), 38–56. https://doi.org/10.1515/tw-2020-0012.10.1515/tw-2020-0012Search in Google Scholar

Bauer, A., Gardini, M. & Skock, A. (2020). Overtourism im Spannungsverhältnis zwischen Akzeptanz und Aversion. Zeitschrift für Tourismuswissenschaft, 12(1), 88–114. https://doi.org/10.1515/tw-2020-0014.10.1515/tw-2020-0014Search in Google Scholar

Bauer, A., Gardini, M. & Skock, A. (2022). Overtourism aus Sicht der einheimischen Bevölkerung: Theoretische Fundierung und empirische Erkenntnisse einer Fallstudie aus dem Allgäu. Zeitschrift für Tourismuswissenschaft, 14(1), 1–21. https://doi.org/10.1515/tw-2021-0035.10.1515/tw-2021-0035Search in Google Scholar

BayLfSt (2022). Tourismus in Bayern im Dezember 2021 und im Jahr 2021. Bayerisches Landesamt für Statistik, Fürth. https://www.statistik.bayern.de/mam/produkte/veroffentlichungen/statistische_berichte/g4100c_202112.pdfSearch in Google Scholar

BMVI (Ed.) (2021). Verkehr in Zahlen 2020/2021. https://www.bmvi.de/SharedDocs/DE/Publikationen/G/verkehr-in-zahlen-2020-pdf.pdf?__blob=publicationFile [09.05.2022].Search in Google Scholar

Bünstorf, N. (2022). Einflussfaktoren der touristischen Verkehrsmittelwahl: Untersuchung auf Basis einer erweiterten Theorie des geplanten Verhaltens. Zeitschrift für Tourismuswissenschaft, 14(1), 22–41. https://doi.org/10.1515/tw-2021-0021.10.1515/tw-2021-0021Search in Google Scholar

De Haas, M., Faber, R. & Hamersma, M. (2020). How COVID-19 and the Dutch ‘intelligent lockdown’ change activities, work and travel behaviour: Evidence from longitudinal data in the Netherlands. Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives, 6, 100150. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.trip.2020.100150.10.1016/j.trip.2020.100150Search in Google Scholar

Deutsche Bahn (2021). Deutsche Bahn – Daten & Fakten 2021. Berlin. https://ir.deutschebahn.com/fileadmin/Deutsch/2021/Berichte/DB21_DuF_d_web_01.pdf [07.05.2022].Search in Google Scholar

DLR (2020a). DLR-Befragung: Wie verändert Corona unsere Mobilität?. https://verkehrsforschung.dlr.de/de/news/dlr-befragung-wie-veraendert-corona-unsere-mobilitaet [11.04.2022].Search in Google Scholar

DLR (2020b). Zweite DLR-Befragung: Wie verändert Corona unsere Mobilität?. https://verkehrsforschung.dlr.de/de/news/zweite-dlr-befragung-wie-veraendert-corona-unsere-mobilitaet [11.04.2022].Search in Google Scholar

Döring, N. & Bortz, J. (2016). Forschungsmethoden und Evaluation in den Sozial- und Humanwissenschaften. 5. Auflage. Springer Verlag, Berlin/Heidelberg. DOI 10.1007/978-3-642-41089-5.10.1007/978-3-642-41089-5Search in Google Scholar

EC (n.d.a). Sustainable Transport – What do we want to achieve? https://transport.ec.europa.eu/transport-themes/sustainable-transport_en [04.04.2022].Search in Google Scholar

EC (n.d.b). Mobility Strategy – Strategy Studies – A fundamental transport transformation: Commission presents its plan for green, smart and affordable mobility. https://transport.ec.europa.eu/transport-themes/mobility-strategy_en [04.04.2022].Search in Google Scholar

EC (n.d.c). A European Green Deal – Striving to be the first climate-neutral continent. https://ec.europa.eu/info/strategy/priorities-2019-2024/european-green-deal_en#documents.Search in Google Scholar

Espinoza, W., Howard, M., Lane, J. & Van Hentenryck, P. (2019). Shared E-scooters: Business, Pleasure, or Transit?. https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.1910.05807.Search in Google Scholar

European Commission, Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport (2021). EU transport in figures: statistical pocketbook 2021. Publications Office. https://data.europa.eu/doi/10.2832/27610.Search in Google Scholar

Eurostat (2021). Sustainable development in the European Union – Monitoring report on progress towards the SDGs in an EU context | 2021 edition. Belgium. https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/documents/3217494/12878705/KS-03-21-096-EN-N.pdf/8f9812e6-1aaa-7823-928f-03d8dd74df4f?t=1623741433852. doi:10.2785/195273.Search in Google Scholar

EY (2020). Micromobility: Moving cities into a sustainable future. EYGM Limited. https://www.voiscooters.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/20200316_EY_Micromobility_Moving_Cities_into_a_Sustainable_Future.pdf [13.04.2022].Search in Google Scholar

Fluctuo (2021). European Shared Mobility Index – April 2021. https://mcusercontent.com/baa57cfb15e41471e5dd992db/files/78549fbf-d3d5-4af3-a775-6746ceaa0dfb/European_Shared_Mobility_Index_1_2021_04_.pdf [13.04.2022].Search in Google Scholar

Follmer, R. (2020). Zurück zur Normalität? Mobilitätsreport 01, Ergebnisse aus Beobachtungen per repräsentativer Befragung und ergänzendem Mobilitätstracking bis Ende Mai (29.05.2020). infas, MOTIONTAG, WZB, gefördert vom Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung. https://www.bmbf.de/bmbf/shareddocs/downloads/files/infas_mobilitaetsreport_20200610.pdf?__blob=publicationFile&v=1 [11.04.2022].Search in Google Scholar

Follmer, R., Belz, J. (2019). Mobilität in Deutschland – MiD Kurzreport Stadt München, Münchner Umland und MVV-Verbundraum. April 2019. Studie von infas, DLR, IVT und infas 360 im Auftrag des Bundesministers für Verkehr und digitale Infrastruktur (FE-Nr. 70.904/15). Bonn, Berlin. www.mobilitaet-in-deutschland.de.Search in Google Scholar

Follmer, R. & Gruschwitz, D. (2019). Mobilität in Deutschland – MiD Kurzreport. Ausgabe 4.0 Studie von infas, DLR, IVT und infas 360 im Auftrag des Bundesministers für Verkehr und digitale Infrastruktur (FE-Nr. 70.904/15). Bonn, Berlin. www.mobilitaet-in-deutschland.de.Search in Google Scholar

Gössling, S. (2020). Integrating e-scooters in urban transportation: problems, policies, and the prospect of system change. Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment, 79, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trd.2020.102230.10.1016/j.trd.2020.102230Search in Google Scholar

Groß, S., Grimm & B. (2019). Umweltfreundliche Verkehrsmittelwahl in der Urlaubsregion: Determinanten der ÖPNV- und Fahrrad-Nutzung in deutschen Destinationen. Zeitschrift für Tourismuswissenschaft, 11(1), 109–148. https://doi.org/10.1515/tw-2019-0007.10.1515/tw-2019-0007Search in Google Scholar

Koglin, T. & Mukthar-Landgren, D. (2021). Contested values in bike-sharing mobilities – A case study from Sweden. Journal of Transport Geography, 92, 03026, 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2021.103026.10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2021.103026Search in Google Scholar

Laa, B. & Leth, U. (2020). Survey of E-scooter users in Vienna: Who they are and how they ride. Journal of Transport Geography, 89, 102874. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2020.102874.10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2020.102874Search in Google Scholar

Le-Klähn, D.-T., Gerike, R. & Hall, C.M. (2014). Visitor users vs. non-users of public transport: The case of Munich, Germany. Journal of Destination Marketing & Management, 03, 152–161.10.1016/j.jdmm.2013.12.005Search in Google Scholar

Le-Klähn, D.-T., Hall, C.M. & Gerike, R. (2014). Analysis of Visitor Satisfaction with Public Transport in Munich. Journal of Public Transportation, 17 (3), 68–85. DOI: http://doi.org/10.5038/2375-0901.17.3.5 Available at: https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/jpt/vol17/iss3/510.5038/2375-0901.17.3.5Search in Google Scholar

LHM (2022) Statistische Daten zur Münchner Bevölkerung – Wer und wie viele sind München? https://stadt.muenchen.de/infos/statistik-bevoelkerung.html [11.04.2022].Search in Google Scholar

McKinsey&Company (2019) Micromobility: Industry progress, and a closer look at the case of Munich. https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/automotive-and-assembly/our-insights/micromobility-industry-progress-and-a-closer-look-at-the-case-of-munich# [13.04.2022].Search in Google Scholar

MiT (2017). Mobilität in Tabellen MiT 2017. https://www.mobilitaet-in-tabellen.de/mit/ [04.03.2020].Search in Google Scholar

MVV (2020). Der MVV in Zahlen und Fakten 2019. Münchner Verkehrs- und Tarifverbund GmbH MVV. München. https://www.mvv-muenchen.de/fileadmin/Servicedownloads/MVV-Statistikbroschuere-20S-Online.pdf.Search in Google Scholar

Nobis, C. & Kuhnimhof, T. (2018). Mobilität in Deutschland – MiD Ergebnisbericht. Studie von infas, DLR, IVT und infas 360 im Auftrag des Bundesministers für Verkehr und digitale Infrastruktur (FE-Nr. 70.904/15). Bonn, Berlin. www.mobilitaet-in-deutschland.de.Search in Google Scholar

Nobis, C. (2019). Mobilität in Deutschland – MiD Analysen zum Radverkehr und Fußverkehr. Studie von infas, DLR, IVT und infas 360 im Auftrag des Bundesministeriums für Verkehr und digitale Infrastruktur (FE-Nr. 70.904/15). Bonn, Berlin. www.mobilitaet-in-deutschland.de.Search in Google Scholar

OECD/ITF (2020). Safe Micromobility. International Transport Forum. ParisSearch in Google Scholar

Olbrich, N. & Pechlaner, H. (2021). Neue Strategien für die Destinationsentwicklung im Deutschlandtourismus? – Ansatzpunkte für eine Post-Corona-Zeit. Zeitschrift für Tourismuswissenschaft, 13(3), 461–482. https://doi.org/10.1515/tw-2021-0023.10.1515/tw-2021-0023Search in Google Scholar

Owain, J., Swiderski, J., Hicks, J., Teoman, D. & Buehler, R. (2019). Pedestrians and E-Scooters: An Initial Look at E-Scooter Parking and Perceptions by Riders and Non-Riders. Sustainability, 11, 5591. DOI: 10.3390/su11205591.10.3390/su11205591Search in Google Scholar

Padmanabhan, V., Penmetsa, P., Li, X., Dhondia, F., Dhondia, S. & Parrish, A. (2021). COVID-19 effects on shared-biking in New York, Boston, and Chicago. Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives, 9, 100282. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trip.2020.100282.10.1016/j.trip.2020.100282Search in Google Scholar

POLIS Macro managing Micro mobility – Taking the long view on short trips. Discussion Paper. November 2019. https://www.polisnetwork.eu/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Polis-Paper-Macromanaging-MicroMobility.pdf [13.04.2022].Search in Google Scholar

Politis, I., Georgiadis, G., Papadopoulos, E., Fyrogenis, I., Nikolaidou, A., Kopsacheilis, A. & Verani, E. (2021). COVID-19 lockdown measures and travel behavior: The case of Thessaloniki, Greece. (K. Kim, Ed.). Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives, 10, 100345. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trip.2021.100345.10.1016/j.trip.2021.100345Search in Google Scholar

Quack, H., Koppenhagen, T., Thiele, F. & Dembowski, N. (2019). Politische Förderung von nachhaltigen Mobilitätsangeboten im Tourismus. Zeitschrift für Tourismuswissenschaft, 11(2), 187–209. https://doi.org/10.1515/tw-2019-0012.10.1515/tw-2019-0012Search in Google Scholar

Reck, D., Guidon, S., Haitao, H. & Axhausen, K. (2020). Shared micromobility in Zurich, Switzerland – Analysing usage, competition and mode choice. Conference paper. 20th Swiss Transport Research Conference STRC 2020, Ascona, Switzerland, May 13–14, 2020. https://doi.org/10.3929/ethz-b-000414863.Search in Google Scholar

RKI (2021). Täglicher Lagebericht des RKI zur Coronavirus-Krankheit-2019 (COVID-19) 12.05.2021 – Aktualisierter Stand für Deutschland. https://www.rki.de/DE/Content/InfAZ/N/Neuartiges_Coronavirus/Situationsberichte/Mai_2021/2021-05-12-de.pdf?__blob=publicationFile [02.05.2022].Search in Google Scholar

Scuttari, A. (2019). Cycling and motorcycling tourism – An anaylsis of physical, sensory, social and emotional features of journey experiences. Springer Nature Switzerland. Cham.10.1007/978-3-030-17697-6Search in Google Scholar

Scuttari, A., Della Lucia, M. & Martini, U. (2013). Integrated planning for sustainable tourism and mobility. A tourism traffic analysis in Italy’s South Tyrol region, Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 21(4), 614–637, DOI: 10.1080/09669582.2013.786083.10.1080/09669582.2013.786083Search in Google Scholar

Scuttari, A. & Isetti, G. (2019). E-mobility and Sustainable Tourism Transport in Remote Areas: – Insights from the Alpine case study of South Tyrol (IT). Zeitschrift für Tourismuswissenschaft, 11(2), 237–256. https://doi.org/10.1515/tw-2019-0014.10.1515/tw-2019-0014Search in Google Scholar

SFMTA (2019). Powered Scooter Share Mid-Pilot Evaluation. https://www.sfmta.com/sites/default/files/reports-and-documents/2019/08/powered_scooter_share_mid-pilot_evaluation_final.pdf [04.03.2020].Search in Google Scholar

Shamshiripour, A., Rahimi, E., Shabanpour, R. & Mohammadian, A. K. (2020). How is COVID-19 reshaping activity-travel behavior? Evidence from a comprehensive survey in Chicago. (K. Kim, Ed.). Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives, 100216. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.trip.2020.100216.10.1016/j.trip.2020.100216Search in Google Scholar

Skoda, E.-M., Spura, A., De Bock, F., Schweda, A., Dörrie, N., Fink, M. & Teufel, M. (2021). Veränderung der psychischen Belastung in der COVID-19-Pandemie in Deutschland: Ängste, individuelles Verhalten und die Relevanz von Information sowie Vertrauen in Behörden. Bundesgesundheitsblatt –Gesundheitsforschung – Gesundheitsschutz(64), 322–333. doi:https://doi. org/10.1007/s00103-021-03278-0.10.1007/s00103-021-03278-0Search in Google Scholar

Stoltenberg, L., Stors, N. & Frisch, T. (2021). Reisen in der eigenen Stadt: Stadt(teil)tourismus während der Corona-Pandemie. Zeitschrift für Tourismuswissenschaft, 13(3), 316–323. https://doi.org/10.1515/tw-2021-002910.1515/tw-2021-0029Search in Google Scholar

Teixeira, J. & Lopes, M. (2020). The link between bike sharing and subway use during the COVID-19 pandemic: The case-study of New York’s Citi Bike. Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives, 100166. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trip.2020.100166.10.1016/j.trip.2020.100166Search in Google Scholar

Umweltbundesamt (2020). Aktive Mobilität: Mehr Lebensqualität in Ballungsräumen. Abschlussbericht. Texte 226/2020. Ressortforschungsplan des Bundesministerium für Umwelt, Naturschutz und nukleare Sicherheit. Forschungskennzahl 3716 58 104 0. FB000156. https://www.umweltbundesamt.de/publikationen.Search in Google Scholar

World Tourism Organization and International Transport Forum (2019). Transport-related CO2 Emissions of the Tourism Sector – Modelling Results. UNWTO. Madrid. DOI: https://doi.org/10.18111/9789284416660.10.18111/9789284416660Search in Google Scholar

Zehl, F. & Weber, P. (2020). Mobilitätsreport 03, Ergebnisse aus Beobachtungen per repräsentativer Befragung und ergänzendem Mobilitätstracking bis Ende Oktober, Ausgabe 15.12.2020, Bonn, Berlin, mit Förderung des BMBF.Search in Google Scholar

Zuniga-Garcia, N. & Machemehl, R.B. (2020). Dockless Electric Scooters and Transit Use in an Urban/University Environment. Paper Presented at the 99th Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board, Washington, 21 DC, January 2020.Search in Google Scholar
Published Online: 2022-11-19
Published in Print: 2022-12-16

© 2022 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston

Articles in the same Issue

  1. Titelseiten
  2. Special Issue: Motorcycle Tourism
  3. Guest Editors: Knut Scherhag, Anna Scuttari
  4. Hauptbeiträge
  5. Introduction to the Special Issue on “Motorcycle Tourism”
  6. Motorcycle Tourism
  7. Investigating Flow in Motorcycle Tourism: A Review of Previous Research and Identification of Opportunities
  8. Holiday Preferences and Travel Behavior of German Motorcyclists. A Cluster Analysis
  9. Adventures on two wheels – Comparative study of motorcycle adventure tourists in Germany, Austria and Switzerland
  10. Effects of motorcycle group membership on the ride experience and travel motivators: A comparison between the USA, the UK, and Turkey
  11. Heroes and Pilgrims: An Autoethnographic exploration of adventure motorcycle travel
  12. E-Scooter usage and mobility behavior during the Covid-19 crisis – Evidence from a large scale survey in Munich and implications for leisure and tourism
  13. Boda bodas: The new form of adventure tourist transportation in Uganda
https://doi.org/10.1515/tw-2022-0014
Keywords for this article
Mobility behavior; mode choice; transport; Covid-19 pandemic; E-Scooter; micromobility

Articles in the same Issue

  1. Titelseiten
  2. Special Issue: Motorcycle Tourism
  3. Guest Editors: Knut Scherhag, Anna Scuttari
  4. Hauptbeiträge
  5. Introduction to the Special Issue on “Motorcycle Tourism”
  6. Motorcycle Tourism
  7. Investigating Flow in Motorcycle Tourism: A Review of Previous Research and Identification of Opportunities
  8. Holiday Preferences and Travel Behavior of German Motorcyclists. A Cluster Analysis
  9. Adventures on two wheels – Comparative study of motorcycle adventure tourists in Germany, Austria and Switzerland
  10. Effects of motorcycle group membership on the ride experience and travel motivators: A comparison between the USA, the UK, and Turkey
  11. Heroes and Pilgrims: An Autoethnographic exploration of adventure motorcycle travel
  12. E-Scooter usage and mobility behavior during the Covid-19 crisis – Evidence from a large scale survey in Munich and implications for leisure and tourism
  13. Boda bodas: The new form of adventure tourist transportation in Uganda
Sign up now to receive a 20% welcome discount
Institutional Access
How does access work?
Have an idea on how to improve our website?
Please write us.
© 2025 De Gruyter Brill
Downloaded on 15.9.2025 from https://www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi/10.1515/tw-2022-0014/html
Scroll to top button