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Abstract
In recent years, the increase in e-scooter usage as an urban transportation modehas spotlighted the imperative for research on safety concerns, especially from the perspective of vulnerable road users. This study bridges the gap by examining the trust and perceived safety towards both regular and AI-enabled e-scooters among vulnerable adult road users. Central to this research is the exploration of how prior experiences and skills with e-scooters influence trust levels in AI technology’s integration into these mobility devices. Survey responses from 195 eligible participants were analyzed to udnerstand usage patterns, safety perceptions, and the potential impact of AI-enabled features on user acceptance. The findings underscore a predominant use of e-scooters among younger adults. This investigation into the selection preferences for AI-enabled e-scooters, based on participants’ racial backgrounds, revealed statistically significant differences, highlighting the impact of race on technology acceptance. Also, a significant correlation was observed between both gender and race with participants’ trust in AI-enabled e-scooters’ capability to manage unexpected situations, underscoring the importance of demographic considerations in technology adoption and trust dynamics. Moreover, age-related analysis of safety perceptions around escooters unveiled varied responses, with younger adults feeling safer compared to other age groups. The study also identified a significant gender-based difference in confidence levels when using AI-enabled e-scooters in diverse traffic conditions, suggesting the influence of gender on the perceived reliability of AI technologies in transportation. These findings provide insights into the demographic factors influencing trust, safety perceptions, and technology acceptance among e-scooter users, essential for tailoring future e-scooter technologies and policies to diverse user needs. Educational levels of users was another factor that showed to influence preferences for AI-assisted over regular e-scooters. Concerns regarding AI-enabled e-scooters’ ability to navigate traffic situations effectively, privacy issues, and the potential for technological malfunctions emerged as significant barriers to trust and acceptance. Furthermore, the research identified a critical gap in formal training for e-scooter usage, pointing to a need for educational interventions. These findings are instrumental in guiding the future design and integration of AI technologies into e-scooters, ensuring they align with users’ safety perceptions and preferences.