Are all obstructions created equal? E-scooters, bicycles, and other objects on the pavement from a pedestrian’s perspective

Shared e-scooters are frequently criticised for obstructing pavements, yet it is unclear whether such reactions stem from actual hindrance or broader negative attitudes. This study compared pedestrians’ responses to e-scooters, bicycles, and cardboard boxes placed either unobtrusively at the pavement edge or encroaching on the walkway. In an online experiment with 200 participants (192 after exclusions) across two age groups, encroaching objects were consistently judged more disruptive than unobtrusive ones. Critically, e-scooters received higher disruptiveness ratings than bicycles or boxes when encroaching, but not when unobtrusively placed. Participants’ general attitudes toward e-scooters strongly influenced their evaluations: those with more negative views rated all objects as more disruptive, with the strongest bias against e-scooters. The results suggest that perceptions of misparked e-scooters are shaped not only by the extent of the physical obstruction they pose, but also by stereotype-driven bias. While misparked e-scooters can certainly pose hazards, particularly for people with mobility impairments, care should be taken that policy responses are grounded in objective evidence, and not distorted by amplified negative sentiment.