Connecting the First and Last Mile: A Systematic Review of Student Use of E-scooters for First/Last-mile Connections to Public Transit

Abstract

Students on university campuses have several available options for travel, including cars, buses, and micromobility, the latter of which encompasses bicycles and more recently, shared e-scooters (e-scooters). E-scooters are lightweight, electric vehicles which can be rented or purchased easily. They offer an ideal option to close the first/last-mile gap between a public transit stop or station and someone’s origin or destination, a niche use for students that has not been well studied. To address this gap in the literature, this paper offers a systematic review of literature from 2017 to 2025, focusing on the characteristics of students who rent e-scooters specifically for first/last-mile transportation. It also examines how these students differ from the broader population of e-scooter users. Limited yet growing evidence suggests that although students are not at present a key user base for e-scooters for first/last-mile connections, those currently using micromobility express interest in this use. Barriers like safety concerns and perceptions that other modes are quicker may hinder widespread adoption, but strategic interventions—such as enhanced safety infrastructure and rising parking prices—could effectively motivate policymakers to promote greater use of e-scooters among students.