Risk Perception of Bicycle/Scooter Riders Risky Behaviors

Taleqani, Ali Rahim; Hough, Jill · 2020 · ROSA P / Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute

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Summary

This study investigates the public’s perception of risk associated with reckless behaviors by bicycle and scooter riders in the United States. Motivated by the rapid growth of shared micromobility and media reports characterizing riders as lawless, the research aims to quantify how general road users perceive the severity and frequency of specific risky actions. The study seeks to identify demographic and behavioral determinants that influence these perceptions, addressing a gap in empirical knowledge regarding how different types of reckless riding are ranked in terms of danger. The researchers conducted two separate cross-sectional online surveys via Qualtrics in March 2019, targeting U.S. residents aged 18 and older. The final dataset included 659 valid responses: 330 for bicycles and 329 for scooters. Participants rated the severity and frequency of 20 specific risky behaviors (e.g., ignoring traffic signals, riding under the influence, distracted riding) using five-point Likert scales. The study employed a risk assessment matrix to categorize risks based on magnitude and frequency. To identify significant predictors of risk perception, the authors applied ordered logistic regression models using eight independent variables: age, sex, marital status, education, employment, income, race, and region. The results indicate that participants generally perceive low risk across most reckless behaviors. However, specific actions were rated differently; riding with under-inflated tires (bicycles) and riding without a helmet (scooters) were perceived as the highest risks, while riding at night without lights and distracted riding were ranked as the least risky. Regression analysis revealed that age and income were the most statistically significant factors influencing risk perception for at least 10 of the 20 behaviors in both vehicle groups. Education level and urban residence also emerged as significant determinants, though their impact varied between bicycle and scooter surveys. For instance, education levels correlated differently with risk perception depending on the vehicle type, potentially reflecting the prevalence of bike-sharing programs on university campuses. Region was found to be the least significant factor, suggesting risk perception is not heavily dependent on geographic location. The findings suggest that public fear of micromobility may be disproportionate to actual incident frequencies, or that media coverage exaggerates risks. The study highlights the need for targeted safety education and enforcement policies that account for demographic differences in risk perception. Specifically, the data supports developing agile enforcement strategies for short trips and educational programs that address specific high-risk behaviors like helmet use. The authors conclude that further research should expand the scope of risky behaviors and explore longitudinal data to better understand how perceptions evolve as micromobility infrastructure expands.

Key finding

Age and income are significant factors shared between both survey groups, while education level and living in urban areas are two statistically significant factors explaining the different risky behaviors with bicycles or scooters.

Methodology

survey

Sample size: 659

Provenance

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Summary generated by qwen3.6-27b-prismaquant on 2026-06-10; verification: verified.

Topics

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• micromobility e scooter
• motorcyclist skill
• cyclist safety
• incidence prevalence

Information type

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• Empirical Findings: observational prevalence, crash risk outcomes