How does parking regulation policy affect e-scooter sharing systems: A data-driven approach and analysis in Nordic cities

Journal article, 2026

The expansion of e-scooters sharing service presents challenges for traffic management. In response to the disruptive effects caused by e-scooters sharing, many states and cities have enacted laws, regulations, or policies to govern their operation. This study proposes a novel analytical framework, integrating regression discontinuity design and difference of probability, for systematically quantifies and comparatively analyzes the impacts of e-scooter sharing policies on usage patterns and system-level benefits. We use three cities in Sweden as representative cases to examine the implementation of e-scooter sharing policies before and after their enactment. Results indicate that Swedish policies in these cities have led to a decrease in shared e-scooter demand, especially near city centers, along with an increase in travel speeds and reduced trip duration and distance. Additionally, the policy promotes individual trips by increasing the likelihood of shared e-scooters replacing other transport modes, resulting in higher efficiency. While the policy increases the likelihood of trips that produce higher emissions, it also contributes positively to greenhouse gas emissions reduction per trip, indicating improved environmental benefits within specific urban contexts. These results provide valuable insights into the role of policy in optimizing shared e-scooter integration within urban transportation systems, ultimately contributing to more sustainable and efficient mobility solutions for cities.