Italian cities have embraced the shared e-scooter, but not everyone is happy about it. The number of e-scooter sharing schemes in Italy grew nine-fold between 2019 and 2022, but the ubiquity of the micromobility devices on Italian streets is also causing a backlash. Concerns about pedestrian and rider safety and blocked sidewalks have led to restrictions to the number of shared e-scooters allowed by city regulators. Rome and Milan, the cities with the largest number of e-scooters in 2022, have started limiting the total number of e-scooters and operators providing sharing services in their cities.
In 2022, the number of e-scooters on Italian streets, around 49,800, also exceeded the number of shared bikes available for the first time, which numbered around 48,600. While the number of e-scooters is only slightly higher than the number of bikes, it is clear which vehicles many Italians prefer. Italians made nearly twice as many trips by e-scooter in 2022 as they did by bike, around 25 million trips by e-scooter compared to under 14 million by bike. E-scooters appear to be gaining a larger market share by every measure. Nonetheless, the market for shared bikes retains its relevance, with millions of regular users and continuing growth.
As shared micromobility continues to grow, these patterns can be expected to shift. By 2028, there are expected to be over three million bike-sharing users and over six million e-scooter-sharing users, bringing an additional three million new users into the two markets combined between 2024 and 2028.
E-scooter or bike – which offer is winning out?
Despite recent clampdowns on shared e-scooters, shared micromobility in Italy is thriving. Combined revenue from bike and e-scooter sharing is expected to reach nearly 183 million euros by 2028. While e-scooters are a newer addition to the micromobility market than bicycles, they have overtaken bikes, in terms of generating revenue for operators as well as measured by average revenue per user.In 2022, the number of e-scooters on Italian streets, around 49,800, also exceeded the number of shared bikes available for the first time, which numbered around 48,600. While the number of e-scooters is only slightly higher than the number of bikes, it is clear which vehicles many Italians prefer. Italians made nearly twice as many trips by e-scooter in 2022 as they did by bike, around 25 million trips by e-scooter compared to under 14 million by bike. E-scooters appear to be gaining a larger market share by every measure. Nonetheless, the market for shared bikes retains its relevance, with millions of regular users and continuing growth.
Who uses shared micromobility?
Shared micromobility users tend to be male, younger than the overall population, and are more likely to belong to the top third income earners than non-users. While this is true for both e-scooter and bike sharing users, there are differences. Overall, e-scooter users are even more likely to be men, 62 percent of e-scooter users compared to 59 percent of bike-sharing users and their average age is younger. However, bike sharing users are slightly more likely to come from a high-income group than e-scooter users.As shared micromobility continues to grow, these patterns can be expected to shift. By 2028, there are expected to be over three million bike-sharing users and over six million e-scooter-sharing users, bringing an additional three million new users into the two markets combined between 2024 and 2028.
