User Behavioral Intentions toward a Scooter-Sharing Service: An Empirical Study

This paper proposes an innovative shared scooter service whereby scooter owners can authorize the rental of their scooters to others through a mobile service platform. It constitutes a public short-distance mobility service for travelers and increases the efficient utilization of each private scooter. The study examines the adoption of scooter-sharing services by travelers and adapts the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology, attitude, and user experience (UX) to investigate the factors that may influence traveler acceptance of scooter-sharing services. The data were collected from Taiwanese travelers who used the shared scooters provided in this study and completed pre- and post-use subjective ratings of the scooter-sharing service (n = 99), analyzed using a hierarchical multiple regression analysis. The results indicate that the model constructs of habit, social influence, and environmental protections may positively affect users' behavioral intentions toward shared scooters, while performance expectancy and effort expectancy may negatively affect intention to use. Attitudes and UX had no direct effect on intention to use. In light of the findings, recommendations for improving the design of scooter-sharing services, implications for service providers, and a reference basis for the development of future shared micro-mobility services are provided.

Automated summary

The study explores the adoption of scooter-sharing services by travelers using the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology, attitude, and user experience. Results show that habit, social influence, and environmental protections positively influence users' intentions towards shared scooters, while performance and effort expectancy have a negative impact on intention to use. Attitudes and UX do not directly affect intention to use, suggesting the need for design improvements and implications for service providers in the shared micro-mobility sector.