Bian Xiaoyan, Chen Su, Ding Ning, Zhang Yiping
Academic Advisor: Mr. N Sivasothi
Effective and sustainable last mile solutions in a transport systems can lead to reductions in carbon emissions by encouraging private car users to adopt public transport. In NUS, the shuttle bus system is a last mile solution which was supplemented by an e-scooter trial called GrabWheels. Our project examined the viability of GrabWheels as a safe, sustainable complement to the campus shuttle bus. We compared unit CO2 emission, efficiency and capacity of shuttle buses and E-scooters and made observations of the threat E-scooters posed to pedestrians, along two popular routes in campus. While E-scooters produce significantly less carbon dioxide than shuttle buses, they are only more efficient during non-peak hours. Parking space was inadequate at some stations, leading to pathway blockages. Most significantly, most pedestrian pathways are not wide enough to accommodate E-scooters alongside pedestrians. We conclude that while E-scooter have the potential to be an effective and sustainable complement, the problems posed in safety and parking areas need to be addressed.
Keywords: Energy & Climate, E-scooters, Shuttle bus