Durations of Dockless E-Scooter Trips Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Austin, TX: An Analysis Using Hazard-Based Duration Models

Abstract: The 2019 coronavirus pandemic has profoundly impacted global life, including economies and transportation systems, leading to shifts in travel behaviors. This study investigates the relationship between socio-economic factors and e-scooter trip durations before and during the pandemic. Using hazard-based duration modeling, we analyze data from Austin’s Open Data Portal for 2019 and 2020. Findings reveal increased e-scooter trip durations post-pandemic and changes in user behavior. Notably, pre-pandemic, trip durations correlated positively with aggregate travel time to work, but this trend reversed during the pandemic. Moreover, during the pandemic, trip durations correlated positively with educational attainment disparities, highlighting the need to extend e-scooter service to underserved communities.