The UK economy could be boosted by £1.1 billion if one in five car journeys were taken by a shared e-scooter or e-bike, according to a new study funded by leading mobility firm Dott.
Researchers from the Oxford University’s Oxford Strategy Group, a consultancy comprised by students at Oxford University, studied Dott’s London operations. Dott is one of three firms that runs rental e-scooters in the UK capital, and also offers e-bikes in a number of boroughs.
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The research looked at the direct and indirect financial contribution of Dott’s services, and then calculated the potential economic gains if more people switched from cars to rental e-bikes or e-scooters.
At present, the study claims that Dott’s services contribute more than £3 million to the UK economy. If just 20 per cent of London’s estimated two billion annual car trips were made by a rental e-bike or e-scooter, that number would jump to more than £1 billion.
So how exactly did researchers come up with that figure?
A substantial £672 million was attributed to savings from the reduction in congestion that would happen if fewer cars were on London’s roads. Londoners would also save an estimated 4.7 million hours of time by switching to more efficient travel, creating another £22 million.
Reduced pollution levels caused by having fewer cars on the road would then create health savings of around £371 million.
The remaining money would be created through throw wages, operators and spending on equipment that is required to run rental e-bike and e-scooter services.
Dott chief Henri Moissinac said: “This new research shows how choosing sustainable transport can benefit the wider economy as well. To unlock this potential, policy makers should take steps to make it easier for more people to switch to environmentally friendly alternatives.”
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