Non-technical aspects of safety in scooter-sharing system in wroclaw

Abstract

Solutions based on the idea of access economy is becoming more and more popular in urban transportation in Polish agglomerations. One of the latest solutions in this system is the sharing of vehicles under scooter-sharing system. Therefore, the purpose of the article is to present the results of research carried out in the area of safety of using shared scooters in the first 3 months of the system implementation in Wrocław. The researchers used direct observation combined with the independent use of vehicles to investigate the issue. The collected experience from the research stage one, became the basis for the preparation of following element of research-an interview based on a survey. It was aimed at examining opinions on the functionality of individual components of the entire rental system among users of the scooter-sharing system. Analyzing the scooter-sharing system in the early phase of its use in Wrocław, 4 areas of existing threats were identified. These hazards can lead to undesirable events that threaten the safety of the user of the scooter or other road users. In the preparation for use phase, aspects related to system registration (including financial settle-ment) and applicable legal regulations were considered material. In the use phase, the user’s behavior, in particular their compliance with the applicable rules, has an impact on operational safety. In the phase of ending the use of the vehicle, the way of leaving the scooter by its current user is of particular importance for the safety of all traffic users. The mobile application, supporting users in vehicle operation, also has a significant impact on the system’s safety.