The E-Scooter Gender Gap

Unless you’ve been living in a cave for the last few years, you’ll have noticed that the e-scooter trend is really starting to pick up pace. But we’ve noticed something a little unexpected. The vast majority of e-scooter enthusiasts are male. In fact, the latest reports suggest that 71% of e-scooter users, are men. Obviously, this is something that we would love to see change, but the first part of effecting that change, is assessing why it seems to be the case.

The predominant reason was probably the most obvious one: Risk. Let’s be honest, there’s a reason men account for most of the self-inflicted injuries you’ll see in your average A&E ward. Women, in general, tend to approach things more carefully, and while the flexibility, manoeuvrability and tech in our e-scooters make them one of the safest forms of travel, they’re still a relatively new form of technology. So, it’s understandable that the perception of risk is a big factor. Interestingly, when surveyed, the biggest safety concern for women, wasn’t necessarily down to the functionality of the scooters themselves, but rather the current infrastructure of the cities they live in.

Lifestyle is another factor. Women tend to “Trip-chain” more than men. Trip chaining is basically any one trip that involves running multiple different errands, and tasks. But, as is the case with the safety worries, these assumed risks and issues need not be a concern.

So, it’s important that we address these issues, and ensure that they don’t prevent this emerging form of personal transport from developing a gender gap. E-scooters are incredibly safe, and the technology is always improving with safety remaining a priority in all future development. The existing cycle lanes in cities, and the acceleration with which they’re being developed, will help accommodate e-scooters when they become road legal. The infrastructure of the nation in general is becoming more environmentally conscious, and the emergence of green cities will inevitably make life for e-scooter enthusiasts as safe as possible.

While the tasks that go into running the average household these days are shared between men and women, data still suggests that women are more likely to undertake various tasks in one outing, such as picking up children or visiting the supermarket. While e-scooters might not be the best option for doing the weekly shop for a family of four, their adaptability for any task that doesn’t involve transporting 5 kilos of fruit and veg is unquestionable. Their speed, and size make e-scooters perfect for moving from one place to another without having to rely on public transport. They really were built for the city and if your trip chain does involve popping into the supermarket, then the scooters lightweight frame means you can easily fold it up, and hop on the bus.

The reality is that the vast majority of concerns are predicated on the fact that the adoption of e-scooters is still in its earliest stages, and that many of these opinions will only change as a result of time and experience. And it goes without saying that we will continue to do everything that we can to advocate for their safety, and viability as the future of personal transport, for men and women alike.