How Infrastructure and Streetscape Shape E-Scooter Route Choice: Evidence from Washington, DC

Abstract

E-scooters have emerged as an important micromobility mode for short urban trips, yet evidence on route choice behavior remains limited. This study examines e-scooter route choice in Washington, DC using GPS trajectory data and a Path Size Logit model. In addition to roadway and infrastructure characteristics, the model incorporates visual streetscape features extracted from Google Street View imagery using computer vision techniques. The results show that the effectiveness of cycling infrastructure depends strongly on roadway context. On major roads, only protected bicycle facilities significantly increase route attractiveness, whereas on minor roads both protected and designated lanes provide utility gains. Sidewalks constitute the most frequently used riding environment, yet only asphalt-paved sidewalks are associated with positive utility, suggesting that sidewalk riding may reflect the absence of attractive on-street alternatives rather than a preference for pedestrian infrastructure. Tree coverage, particularly during summer, as well as building and wall coverage, are positively associated with route choice. Likelihood ratio tests and value-of-distance analysis indicate that roadway infrastructure exerts a stronger influence on route choice than visual streetscape features, although the latter provide additional explanatory power. These findings support targeted infrastructure investment and the integration of streetscape improvements as a complementary strategy for enhancing micromobility route attractiveness.