# Risk Perception and Barriers to Electric Scooter Prevalence
###### Abstract  
Micro-mobility, which includes small, lightweight vehicles such as bicycles, electric scooters, and electric bikes, has emerged as a key component of modern urban transportation over the last decade. ESs have transformed how people navigate cities by offering an eco-friendly alternative to traditional transport, improving last-mile connectivity, and reducing traffic congestion. However, they also present challenges related to safety, infrastructure, and regulation. The rising crash rates involving electric scooters pose a significant public safety concern, driven by their novelty and limited research on associated risks. This study investigates factors influencing the adoption and use of electric scooter-sharing services, emphasizing risk perception, cultural norms, technological familiarity, and physical infrastructure. It also examines travel behaviors, common risks, and barriers to adoption. Using data from 254 Israeli participants, including 50 electric scooter users, the research highlights that 48% of users experienced near-miss incidents, and 38% used scooters on vehicular roads. The primary risk was identified as dangerous driver behavior on these roads, while the key barrier to adoption was a high perception of risk or low sense of safety. A structural equation model revealed that risk perception is influenced by gender-related attitudes and subjective norms, which indirectly diminish positive attitudes toward electric scooters and willingness to share and use them. The findings emphasize the importance of a safe physical infrastructure in fostering positive attitudes and promoting electric scooter use. This research provides valuable insights into mitigating risks and improving the adoption of electric scooters as a sustainable micro-mobility option. e 20  
the figures are as follows: 598 accidents in 2019, 694 in 2020, 953 in 2021, and 1103 in 2022. This trend underscores the growing prevalence of ES usage and highlights the need for enhanced safety measures and infrastructure to address the associated risks. In 2023, 55 of the accidents were in Ashdod, being the third city in Israel in ES-related accidents (followed by Tel Aviv-Yafo and Holon). [PERSON] et al. [8] showed that between 2013 and 2015, 795 hospitalized cases from e-bike and motorized scooter accidents were reported in Israel, with a six-fold increase over this period. Most injuries involved riders, but 8% were pedestrians, with 33% of all casualties being children (0-14 years) and 42% of pedestrian casualties being children or seniors above 60. ESs are motorized vehicles but are often classified under micro-mobility, blending both motorized and active transport modes. While they require minimal physical effort, ESs contribute to sustainable urban transport by reducing reliance on cars and are commonly integrated into active transportation systems. Promoting the use of active modes is essential for promoting sustainable transportation. However, the associated risks need to be examined. Understanding risk factors while using active modes can decrease risk perceptions and make active modes more attractive. This research examines factors affecting the adoption and use of electric scooter sharing (ES-sharing) services, especially risk perception, norms, culture, familiarity with new technology, and built environment. This study also attempts to study ES drivers' travel behavior, common ES risks, and barriers to its prevalence. The study findings can increase awareness of this relatively new mode of transportation and help decision makers suggest appropriate policies that overcome these barriers. Micro-mobility and ESs, in general, have several advantages, including decreasing traffic congestion, being eco-friendly, a relatively inexpensive form of transportation, being lightweight, occupying little space for parking, compatibility, being considered a fun mode of driving, and overcoming the limitations of the first/last-mile problem.