According to a study conducted by Neuron, e-scooter usage in Canada is more equal among male and female riders than in some other countries.
The study revealed that across Canada, 57 per cent of riders are male, 40 per cent are female and three per cent identified as other. By contrast, in the United Kingdom, males made up 75 per cent of riders and females comprised 25 per cent.
Isaac Ransom, the head of corporate affairs at Neuron Mobility, said the study showed e-scooters are being embraced by the Canadian population as a whole.
“I think a lot of the perception that it was a male-dominated form of transportation was anecdotal to begin with,” said Ransom. “What we are seeing when we go out and talk to riders is that it’s fairly even amongst male and female riders.”
The research for the study was put together over the last few months, but the study itself was done before e-scooters made their way to Saskatchewan.
Neuron doesn’t have an exact number for female ridership in Saskatchewan but estimates it to be around 40 per cent, if not a bit higher.
Ransom said the company is seeing more female riders in the western part of Canada as opposed to the eastern part. Vernon, B.C., had the highest female ridership at 47 per cent.
As for the female riders themselves, 62 per cent of them are between the ages of 18 and 34.
Ransom believes the study shows that e-scooters are a safe form of transportation.
“We hear from female riders that they like the ‘follow my ride’ feature which can be found on the e-scooter,” said Ransom, “so when you’re travelling at night you can share your location with a family member or friend.”
Ransom believes that as more people begin to use e-scooters, the numbers could even out even more to a 50/50 split.
The study also revealed that 20 per cent of rides happen between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.