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E-Scooter Sustainability – A Clash of Needs, Perspectives, and Experiences

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Human-Computer Interaction – INTERACT 2021 (INTERACT 2021)

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNISA,volume 12934))

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Abstract

Electric stand-up scooters (e-scooters) are introduced in several cities worldwide, providing new means for people to travel around the city. While praised for their flexibility, e-scooters are also met with negative sentiments due to fatal accidents and chaotic parking. In this paper, we seek to understand the mobility of shared e-scooters and point to gaps in the user interaction between the digital and physical world. We carried out three data collections, including interviews, in situ observation, analysis of news media coverage. Our findings illustrate integration with alternate modes of transportation in urban context, and how technologies facilitate or hinder (micro-) mobility. We found that users of e-scooters primarily view these devices as an alternative to walking rather than other transportation forms. Additionally, we found that users’ and non-users’ needs, perspectives and experiences of e-scooters clash, in particular with regard to perceptions of sustainability. Based on these findings, we present three relevant perspectives of sustainability, extending the ongoing debate of sustainable HCI research. We contribute with an empirically supported understanding of the perception of mobility and sustainability for e-scooters in a Scandinavian urban context.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to extend their gratitude to all participants in this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Human-Centered Computing Group, Aalborg University, Selma Lagerløfs Vej 300, 9220, Aalborg East, Denmark

    Maria Kjærup, Mikael B. Skov & Niels van Berkel

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  1. Maria Kjærup
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  2. Mikael B. Skov
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  3. Niels van Berkel
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Maria Kjærup .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Electrical and Information Engineering, Polytechnic University of Bari, Bari, Italy

    Carmelo Ardito

  2. Computer Science Department, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy

    Rosa Lanzilotti

  3. Computer Science Department, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy

    Alessio Malizia

  4. Department of Computer Science, University of York, York, UK

    Helen Petrie

  5. Computer Science Department, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy

    Antonio Piccinno

  6. Computer Science Department, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy

    Giuseppe Desolda

  7. Microsoft Research, Redmond, WA, USA

    Kori Inkpen

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Kjærup, M., Skov, M.B., van Berkel, N. (2021). E-Scooter Sustainability – A Clash of Needs, Perspectives, and Experiences. In: Ardito, C., et al. Human-Computer Interaction – INTERACT 2021. INTERACT 2021. Lecture Notes in Computer Science(), vol 12934. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-85613-7_26

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-85613-7_26

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